Accrington Railways - Robert Kenyon

268 Even the prospective Conservative Candidate for the Accrington Constituency was critical of the Beeching plans for North East Lancs, calling them “drastic in the least”. Writing in the Observer, Councillor Martin Henry stated, “It is difficult in all common sense to deny the overall merit of these was resolved to make a protest to the British Transport Commission about the increased cost and time to passengers who would have to change in Preston as a withdrawal of this ‘direct’ service. There was a footy special to Blackpool for the Burnley game leaving at 12:53, returning from South at 17:17 on Saturday, the 23 rd , and a day later at 10:40 a repeat of the stations to Workington for 24/-, a rambler’s train to Grassington departing 11:13 at 8/9d and a special to Sheffield leaving at 11:21 at 12/6d. The final excursion of the month was one to York from Church at 10:14, Accrington 10:19 with a choice of destinations starting at Skipton for 5/9d, Keighley 6/-, Leeds 8/-, Church Fenton 10/6d and York at 13/6d. There was an organised ramble from Church Fenton for those so inclined. March ‘Carefree’ all-inclusive BR holidays to Ireland from £24 – 10s and to Scotland from £22 – 12s, were on offer again in 1963. On Sunday, the 3 rd , Millom was the destination for 17/-, whilst on the 17 th , it was Doncaster at 12/6d and Workington on the 24 th , for 24/-. Advanced notice was given that 8-day period returns could now be booked for overnight trains between June 21 st and July 5 th , [the ‘new’ holidays], to Bournemouth, Brighton/Eastbourne, Torquay & Paignton, also on Friday, the 19 th , of July [the ‘old’ holidays]. The General Purposes Committee met, and the Town Clerk presented correspondence from the District Passenger Manager of the London Midland Region of British Railways, regarding the increased fares that passengers were now having to pay by travelling via Preston to London since the withdrawal of the ‘direct’ service. It stated that there had been careful consideration of given to amendments to the fares of people travelling from stations in East Lancashire, but as any concessions would decrease the revenue, they had been unable to agree to any reductions to the fares charged by travelling via Preston. The contents of this letter were noted. The Grand National Meeting was on at Aintree from Thursday, the 28 th , to Saturday, the 30 th , and for 8/3d return, racegoers departing Accrington at 11:01 would need to change at Lostock Hall, but could return on any train on the same day. On Sunday, the 31 st , there was a return to Grassington with the option of rambles. At the end of the month there was an angry reaction to the announcement that the Accrington to Manchester line via Bury - Bolton Street, along with the section of lines between Burnley and Todmorden were to be closed to passenger traffic. The Chair of Accrington’s Transport Committee and Mayor elect, John Riley JP, in his reaction to the findings of the Beeching Report described the proposal to close the Accrington to Bury line as, “One of the most inhuman acts of the century. But if this was not enough the link between Burnley and Todmorden was also to go under the proposals put forward by Dr Beeching, whilst the Rossendale Valley would lose all of its train services, although the line through to Skipton would apparently remain intact”. Alderman Wilfred Wallwork, who had unsuccessfully campaigned for the retention of the through service to London, felt that due to a groundswell of public opinion British Railways would not go through with these plans, saying “The public will never stand for it”. Most if not all felt that this would direct more traffic onto the already busy roads between North East Lancs and Manchester. He also pointed out that for passengers travelling via Blackburn and Bolton, the journey would be more expensive and time consuming. Terry Maher, the prospective Liberal Candidate, commented, “This will be a disaster for the town”. April The excursions began on Friday, the 5 th , with an overnight train to London at 23:56 for the England v Scotland International. The alternative was a special ‘dining car train’ at 07:45 to Wembley Central, returning at 17:45. The return fare on both of these trains was 48/6d, but with lunch out and dinner on the return, which needed to be ordered in advance, the supplement was 28/7d. On Sunday, the 7 th , Ilkley was revisited and over Easter there were repeat specials to Millom, to Scarborough departing 10:34 at 18/6d, Grange/Morecambe leaving at 11:09 for 10/6d, and Ilkley yet again on Good Friday, whilst on Easter Sunday, Coventry or Harrogate were the choices. On all four of the days there were regular trips to Blackpool, Southport and Morecambe. “Although there had been no great rush, bookings on the specials to Scarborough and Morecambe via Grange had been good, although the poor weather on the run up to the break was probably a factor, and once again Blackpool was the greatest attraction”, stated a spokesman at Accrington Station.