Wigan North Western to Wembley special

[northwichcat]

http://www.mayfairworldtravel.co.uk/CC_tours_list.html

 

[Crimson_Quiff]

I take it Cargo-D are running that one? Any gen on traction?

 

[strange6]

There was a piece about this in the local paper. There's engineering work between Wigan and Crewe on that day and everybody was up in arms about it. So somebody set this up and it's the only direct train from Wigan to London on that day. It's being routed via bolton and manchester - everybody else will have to get a bus to Crewe

 

[JoeGJ1984]

As I said in another thread, I ask if it is not possible to set up a system where event organisers such as this can request that lines be left open for the events. And the possibility of strengthening services so they don't get too overcrowded.

Surely it's not too much to ask for communication between event organisers and Network Rail and the TOCs.

 

[junglejames]

As I said in another thread, I ask if it is not possible to set up a system where event organisers such as this can request that lines be left open for the events. And the possibility of strengthening services so they don't get too overcrowded.

Surely it's not too much to ask for communication between event organisers and Network Rail and the TOCs.

Easy answer. When were the semi finals of the Challenge Cup? When was the line closure planned? Id take a wild guess and say the line closure has been planned a lot longer than it has been known that Wigan would be contesting the final.
Do you expect NR to cancel any line closures at the last minute (after the semi finals), which may affect travel for the final? Not going to happen really.
Or do you want NR to keep every line open on the day of a major final, just in case a team on that line ends up contesting the final?
Perhaps you expect NR to only plan engineering works on cup final days, as and when each team gets knocked out of the competition?

Im afraid none of these will happen. Its just an unfortunate coincidence in this case.
It would be different if it was an International, where it is known about well in advance, but the teams contesting this final haven't been known about for long at all.

 

[northwichcat]

Easy answer. When were the semi finals of the Challenge Cup? When was the line closure planned? Id take a wild guess and say the line closure has been planned a lot longer than it has been known that Wigan would be contesting the final.

8 of the last 10 years and every year for the last 5 years there has been one or more of Wigan, Warrington and St Helens in the cup final, so having the Crewe-Warrington line closed on cup final day always meant there was a very high risk that travelling rugby fans would be affected.

It would be different if it was an International, where it is known about well in advance, but the teams contesting this final haven't been known about for long at all.

How far in advance does it need to be though? Delamere Forest had gigs planned months in advance and the weekend of the gigs the line was closed for engineering works. This led to Delamere Forest actually putting on their website to try and avoid using public transport to get to the gigs as Northern Rail couldn't promise them enough replacement buses would be used to even match the capacity of a single Pacer.

 

[junglejames]

8 of the last 10 years and every year for the last 5 years there has been one or more of Wigan, Warrington and St Helens in the cup final, so having the Crewe-Warrington line closed on cup final day always meant there was a very high risk that travelling rugby fans would be affected.

Good point. But it is still not guarenteed, and because of that, probably not something NR take into account.

How far in advance does it need to be though? Delamere Forest had gigs planned months in advance and the weekend of the gigs the line was closed for engineering works. This led to Delamere Forest actually putting on their website to try and avoid using public transport to get to the gigs as Northern Rail couldn't promise them enough replacement buses would be used to even match the capacity of a single Pacer.

Something i dont know unfortunately. The Delamere Forest one seemed daft as they apparently have gigs every year. Unfortunately this does seem to have been an NR blond moment.