WCML Feb weekend closures at Preston

[Falcon1200]

Presumably there's a difference of approach between Avanti and East Coast, because the latter does often seem to divert via the Tyne valley though?

Given that the majority of Avanti's fleet is electric-only, even if route knowledge could be maintained (in itself a major exercise) finding enough trains to operate more than a token service would be a challenge. Whereas LNER have a good number of bi-mode sets.

Re diversions versus road transport; Way back in the 1980s I travelled one Sunday on a train diverted via both the Glasgow & South Western and the Settle & Carlisle routes - It took 6 hours to get from Glasgow to Preston! The M74 (or even A74 as part was back then) and M6 would have been way faster.

 

[WatcherZero]

It‘s 46 miles. In my frequent experience of travelling that part of the M6 at weekends (which is when this will be happening), congestion is rare, and limited to when there has been an accident, or a particularly big flow to Blackpool (good weather / illuminations, neither of which are likely for the next few weeks). I think I’ve got stuck near Preston once in the last 20 years, and I use it at least 6 times a year.

90minutes is plenty, and I’d expect most trips to do it in around an hour.

Well not to call your 6 times a year sample a bit under representative but my father did the commute every day for most of his working life being based in Bamber Bridge.

 

[Bald Rick]

Well not to call your 6 times a year sample a bit under representative but my father did the commute every day for most of his working life being based in Bamber Bridge.

Did he commute at weekends in February / March?

 

[30907]

Whilst it might be possible to do Wigan NW to Lancaster in 90 minutes by Coach thats by no means guaranteed given its the M6. In addition consider there is a shortage of drivers for them - they have gone to be HGV drivers but haven't been replaced in equal numbers.

Therefore running a diverted service could be considered an option but the biggest challenge is the route between Bolton and Blackburn which is partially a single line and secondly the whole length isn't wired.

You go via Lostock Hall though.

 

[WatcherZero]

Did he commute at weekends in February / March?

Indeed, with regular site visits to Sellafield and Barrow to. You can always tell the difference on the northern M6 if the WCML is closed.

 

[stevetay3]

No.

Not without a lot of route learning/ conducting - and drag with what?

With steam locomotives

 

[MP33]

I am due to visit Blackpool at the end of March, travelling on the Friday and returning on the Monday. There was mention of issues on weekdays, is it known to what extent?

There may be a strike and I can take advantage of what was the site of Blackpool Central station.

 

[30907]

I am due to visit Blackpool at the end of March, travelling on the Friday and returning on the Monday. There was mention of issues on weekdays, is it known to what extent?

If you mean the work at Preston which this thread is about, then the final day involved is Sunday 12 March, and weekdays are not involved.

The other work which I think has been referred to is at Carstairs further North, but that doesn't affect you (unless you are travelling from Glasgow).

 

[Class 170101]

You go via Lostock Hall though.

Would that not require a reversal at Bolton though? Is Bolton Bi-Directionally signalled?

 

[Watershed]

Would that not require a reversal at Bolton though? Is Bolton Bi-Directionally signalled?

All platforms at Bolton are now bidirectionally signalled, but there's no trailing crossover at the Down end. So whilst you can reverse from the Lostock Jn direction to head to Blackburn, you can't do the opposite move - at least, not without reversing outside the Up end of the station at Burnden Jn (where the signalling would actually allow this under main aspects).

 

[30907]

Lostock Hall is outside Preston, at the end of the spur from Farington Curve Jn, not Lostock Jn near Bolton. Confusing to have similarly named locations so close.

 

[MDB1images]

Anyone know what the delay in putting the RR buses in the system between Wigan and Preston next Sunday is?

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Lostock Hall is outside Preston, at the end of the spur from Farington Curve Jn, not Lostock Jn near Bolton. Confusing to have similarly named locations so close.

Not to mention Lostock Gralam not so much further away in Cheshire.