When will Euston-Blackpool North trains be starting again?

[ainsworth74]

And just for the avoidance of doubt any further discussion regarding Grand Central should be confined to that thread please

 

[CW2]

I used the 07:15 Birmingham - Blackpool North service to get me to Preston earlier this week. 9-coach Pendo, with more coaches than passengers. I wonder how much longer it will last. In theory the three trains per day are well-timed, but how many people want to travel to / from Blackpool nowadays?

 

[dk1]

I used the 07:15 Birmingham - Blackpool North service to get me to Preston earlier this week. 9-coach Pendo, with more coaches than passengers. I wonder how much longer it will last. In theory the three trains per day are well-timed, but how many people want to travel to / from Blackpool nowadays?

It will all come back given time (& a vaccine) so if the DfT are happy to subsidise for the next year or so there's no reason to suspect it won't continue regardless of whether there are 9 or 90 passengers onboard. Some of the Blackpool services where always poorly loaded before all this kicked off.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I used the 07:15 Birmingham - Blackpool North service to get me to Preston earlier this week. 9-coach Pendo, with more coaches than passengers. I wonder how much longer it will last. In theory the three trains per day are well-timed, but how many people want to travel to / from Blackpool nowadays?

I suspect it's more that the connection at Preston is easy and quick and gives you an hourly option - there's really very little benefit to constraining your travel to fit three trains per day. People do like direct trains, but this connection is one of the easier ones. In most cases it's even same-platform (though at worst it might involve crossing between the 3/4 and 5/6 islands).

 

[Starmill]

Their Blackpool North services were never busy, and in the week they were often completely dead. Of course, it doesn't help that the daytime ones don't call at Kirkham & Wesham or Poulton-le-Fylde. Assuming the SDO is compatible there it would probably help. The 0854 London Euston to Blackpool North is supposed to begin calling at Crewe if it ever resumes though.

The 0715 from Birmingham shouldn't be dead though - that's a Covid problem. Of course while it's not direct to Glasgow Central it might not improve much.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Their Blackpool North services were never busy, and in the week they were often completely dead. Of course, it doesn't help that the daytime ones don't call at Kirkham & Wesham or Poulton-le-Fylde.

Those well known bustling metropolises with thousands of London commuters daily

Seriously, what's that going to add, 2 or 3 passengers per train? If you live in either of those and want to go to London you're probably going to drive to Preston or take the connecting train, which offers you a fast and expensive train an hour plus another slower, cheaper one via Brum.

 

[Starmill]

Those well known bustling metropolises with thousands of London commuters daily

Unlike Blackpool?

Seriously, what's that going to add, 2 or 3 passengers per train? If you live in either of those and want to go to London you're probably going to drive to Preston or take the connecting train, which offers you a fast and expensive train an hour plus another slower, cheaper one via Brum.

Calling there comes almost free, because almost nobody will experience an increase in journey times, which is usually the reason there is a trade-off. It is likely to be worthwhile, even if only a handful of people use those stations - as demonstrated by the existing services which do call, and the defunct GC service which would have made the calls. More calls at Crewe would probably be helpful, but apparently it has been 'challenging' to get any other than the 0854 in.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Unlike Blackpool?

Well, I do question the worth of the whole thing, to be fair (and think if GC had gone ahead it would have mostly gained passengers from stations other than Blackpool). But Blackpool is certainly far bigger than the other two, and is to some extent a destination too (albeit mainly for stag dos and the likes).

 

[Starmill]

Well, I do question the worth of the whole thing, to be fair (and think if GC had gone ahead it would have mostly gained passengers from stations other than Blackpool). But Blackpool is certainly far bigger than the other two, and is to some extent a destination too (albeit mainly for stag dos and the likes).

Poulton-le-Fylde is the more used railhead for the coast than Blackpool North is, which was also the reason given at the time for the 1633 calling there. I forgot to mention that the 1846 from London was extended to Blackpool North, it runs Friday only and it does call at Kirkham & Wesham and Poulton-le-Fylde.

 

[DoubleO]

too many years on the inside some may say...

That's come back to bite you a bit hasn't it......!!

 

[The Planner]

That's come back to bite you a bit hasn't it......!!

Not really considering no one at other TOCs at the time of this coming out last night were any the wiser either. Timing was impeccable too considering the Dec 20 timetable was only bid 6 days ago.

 

[TheSel]

Not necessarily, they may start a skeleton service prior to that.

Do these skeletons have to wear masks?