Strange Northern Routes?

[underbank]

Looking at Real Time Trains recently, I've seen two unusual workings, one being Leeds to Barrow in Furness via Blackburn/Preston, and a Blackpool to Carlisle service via Blackburn and the S&C line. Are these regular services or were they "one offs" for route training or whatever?

 

[PHILIPE]

Looking at Real Time Trains recently, I've seen two unusual workings, one being Leeds to Barrow in Furness via Blackburn/Preston, and a Blackpool to Carlisle service via Blackburn and the S&C line. Are these regular services or were they "one offs" for route training or whatever?

There have been major timetable changes on Northern from this timetable with almost a rehash and route swapping with Trans Pennine. There is a lengthy thread regarding Northern Timetable changes 2018. If the Blackpool to Carlisle was a Sunday this is the "Dalesrail" and has run for years.

 

[geoffk]

I wonder if the Leeds - Barrow is a means of swapping over class 153s used on the Cumbria Coast.

 

[Bertie the bus]

The Summer Sunday Blackpool - Carlisle via Clitheroe & S&C DalesRail service has existed for years. Abellio/Serco introduced it.

https://www.communityraillancashire.co.uk/lines/dalesrail/

 

[30907]

The Summer Sunday Blackpool - Carlisle via Clitheroe & S&C DalesRail service has existed for years. Abellio/Serco introduced it.

https://www.communityraillancashire.co.uk/lines/dalesrail/

The Dalesrail service goes back well before privatisation, and was the first to serve the intermediate stations closed post Beeching. I would go for mid 70s.

Re the Leeds- Barrow: I believe the Barrow line now has 158s diagrammed, and these are the normal units on Leeds-Preston.

 

[John C]

I wonder if the Leeds - Barrow is a means of swapping over class 153s used on the Cumbria Coast.

The Leeds-Barrow is used to get a 158 across to Barrow as 158’s are now diagrammed daily on some services out of Barrow following last weeks timetable change. I captured 158909 at Halifax on Tuesday working 1C56 15:51 Leeds-Barrow.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/railphotosonline/28409147778/in/dateposted/

 

[Denis103]

There is also a new return working from Nottingham to Carlisle via Leeds on a Sunday. Departing Nottingham at 0919 arriving in Carlisle at 1347 returning at 1502 arriving in Nottingham at 2000.

 

[Starmill]

There is also a new return working from Nottingham to Carlisle via Leeds on a Sunday. Departing Nottingham at 0919 arriving in Carlisle at 1347 returning at 1502 arriving in Nottingham at 2000.

This has also existed for quite some years.

 

[Ianno87]

The Dalesrail service goes back well before privatisation, and was the first to serve the intermediate stations closed post Beeching. I would go for mid 70s.

Re the Leeds- Barrow: I believe the Barrow line now has 158s diagrammed, and these are the normal units on Leeds-Preston.

Dalesrail was definitely running in North West Regional Railways days!

 

[53703]

There used to be 2 afternoon trips from Adwick to Manchester Pic via all stations, not sure if that still runs. Also I'm sure there used to be a Lincoln to Hull via Sheffield.

 

[Kite159]

Leeds to Hull via Poppleton anyone?

(06:02 Leeds - Hull, calling at all stations apart from Ulleskelf & Broomfleet)

 

[Bovverboy]

There used to be 2 afternoon trips from Adwick to Manchester Pic via all stations, not sure if that still runs.

In the time I have known train services in the Manchester area there's only been one journey per day, Adwick to Piccadilly - but it appears to have gone in the recent changes.

 

[jimm]

The Dalesrail service goes back well before privatisation, and was the first to serve the intermediate stations closed post Beeching. I would go for mid 70s.

Spot on.

Dales Rail was launched in 1975 as an experiment on six summer weekends. But the initial service only ran from West Yorkshire

There is a Transport and Road Research Laboratory report based on interviews carried out that first summer. It also gives some background information about the project. See https://trl.co.uk/sites/default/files/LR769.pdf

Lancashire Dales Rail trains started a bit later, but certainly were operating in 1980 or 1981, from Preston.