Accrington Railways - Robert Kenyon

businessman and former Mayor of the town, who stated that many of the 200 employees at his fabric producing factory often used the line to Accrington. Frank Allaun, Labour MP for Salford, waded in by stating the already congested roads in and out of the City would be subject to even further congestion and delays. A substantial number of written objections had been sent in from residents living on the line of the four stations facing closure. In its application to withdraw the service, BR stated the line was losing £29,000 per annum, in addition to which the sum of £23,500 would have to be spent on renewing equipment during 1966, with a further £39,300 in the years 1967 to 1969. The findings of the Transport Users Consultative Committee’s inquiry would be sent to Tom Watson in due course. On Monday, the 26 th , the Transport Users Consultative Committee issued the following statement - “The findings of this Committee for the North West Area, has come to the opinion that considerable hardship would be caused to people living to the north of Bury, if the British Railways Board was to withdraw its passenger services between Accrington, Bury, Clifton Junction and Manchester Victoria. But there would be no hardship caused to those travelling between Bury and Manchester Victoria. There would be widespread hardship to workers, schoolchildren, mothers with prams and disabled persons living in the area to the north of Bury, and these would be brought about if the Railway Board’s proposals to withdraw passenger services between Accrington and Manchester Victoria, via Clifton Junction and Bury Bolton Street were carried out. This hardship would also have very serious consequences for passengers from Summerseat. This Committee had considered the means available for alleviating any hardship and has now made a report to the Minister responsible.” ( Exactly what the report said could not be disclosed as it was confidential, and for the Minister’s eyes only, but it did say that the closure would not be a cause of any hardship to the people travelling between Bury and Manchester .) December It was announced that from January 2 nd , BR was increasing fares by 2 pence per mile. This would translate into an increase of 2/3d on a journey between Manchester and Accrington. These increases for the Division which covers North East Lancashire and the Fylde Coast were announced by Divisional Commercial Manager, Mr G. Fell, at a press conference in Preston. The fare from Accrington to Manchester would rise to 8/9d at any time of the day, whereas it currently was 6/6d. However, there would be savings on a five-day contract and the fare would be 7/11d, whilst on a 3-month contract this would fall to 5/11d per day. Mr Fell stated he had to take into consideration the weight of traffic on each section of line before deciding on the scale of fares to charge, and a contract holder had the advantage of being able to use it for seven days a week and more than once per day. Other journeys would be cheaper including Accrington to Preston, Burnley Central and Nelson. Examples of this were the off-peak ticket to Preston which was 4/3d, whilst the peak fare was currently 6/1d. This would fall to 5/9d return and on a three monthly contract to 4/10d. Burnley was now 2/6d as against 2/9d and 1/11d, Nelson was now 3/6d as against 2/9d and 3/6d. Journeys between Accrington and Skipton would be 7/9d as against 8/3d in peak time, and 5/8d off peak. The return fare to Blackpool would go up by 1 penny to 10/- at any time of the day. These increases were defended by Mr Fell, who stated, “They will be simpler for the passenger to understand, and will be much cheaper for contract travellers”. I n 1965 ACCRINGTON DMU depot was given the new code 10E and received a further allocation of 8 sets of Cravens 112s from 26A Newton Heath as follows - Clas s DMBS – DMCL New Withdrawn Scrapped by 112 M51689 – M51714 August 1959 November 1968 King, Wymondham & Cohen, Kettering 112 M51690 – M51715 August 1959 November 1968 Derby C & W Works & King, Wymondham 112 M51691 – M51716 August 1959 November 1969 Bird, Long Marston & King, Wymondham 112 M51692 – M51717 September 1959 November 1969 Bird, Long Marston 112 M51693 – M51718 September 1959 November 1968 King, Wymondham & Bird, Long Marston 112 M51694 – M 51719 September 1959 November 1968 King, Wymondham & Bird, Long Marston

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