Accrington Railways - Robert Kenyon

Macclesfield 11:30 (18:59), Congleton 11:43 (18:46), Stoke 12:01 (18:29) and arriving at Cheddleton at 12:59 before returning at 17:30. It was emphasised the fares of £3:20p and £1:60p did not include admission to the North Staffs Preserved Railway. The train arrived back in Rishton at 21:06 and Accrington seven minutes later. At a meeting of the Highways & Transportation Committee and further to a previous minute, Mr D. R. Harrison, the Divisional Manager of British Railways, attended to explain in greater detail the ‘special’ offer being made to Hyndburn Council with regard to the Senior Citizen’s Rail Card scheme. He stated that concessions had been made available for several years, which in the Preston Division had proved to be “extremely popular” in that 37,000 had been issued during the past twelve months and this was a considerable increase over the previous years. In order to encourage local authorities to acquire these cards for the benefit of the residents in their areas, BR had made arrangements for them to purchase cards at a discount details of these were now set out - I. This scheme would allow District Councils to issue one of the following types of Senior Citizen’s Railcards to eligible persons. II. A ‘£10 Railcard’, would entitle the holder to purchase either ordinary single, ordinary return or day return ticket at half-fare. III. A ‘£5 Railcard’ would entitle the holder to purchase one day return ticket only at half fare. IV. District Councils could purchase these Railcards in one of two ways – (a) On the basis of an issue equal to the total number of senior citizens resident in the Borough. (b) On the basis of the estimated take-up by senior citizens resident in the Borough. V. BR would allow a discount on the public fares (£10 or £5) for either bulk purchases or by the exchanged vouchers system as follows - Option 2 (a) Full Take-Up. Option 2 (b) Expected Take-Up. Bulk purchase @ 50% Bulk purchase @ 25% Exchange vouchers @ 45% Exchange vouchers @ 20% VI. Payment to BR would be made in one of two ways, either by cheque for the bulk purchase of Railcards under (a) or (b), or by an Exchange Order whereby the District Councils would obtain from BR a supply of vouchers for distributing to senior citizens, who would then exchange them for Railcards at manned stations. BR would then invoice the District Council for all the orders passed through the stations. VII. In each case the Borough would be required to inform BR on whether or not they were prepared to accept either option (a) or (b) for adoption. In either case the number of cards provided would be the number the District Council would have contracted to issue and that once the initial contractual obligations had been met, appropriate provision for renewals would be made. VIII. British Railways would provide Councils with all the materials necessary - Railcards, wallets, condition cards, season ticket date stamps, and promotional literature and/or appreciation forms. IX. Senior citizens who were issued with £5 Railcards could, if they so wished, trade up to a £10 Railcard at either a station or an agency outlet upon payment of a further £5. Mr Harrison concluded by saying that already one authority had taken up BR’s offer, whilst a number of others had shown considerable interest in this scheme. He hoped that Hyndburn would give favourable consideration, as it would not only be appreciated by the Borough’s senior citizens, but would also assist in the “preservation of the existing railway network in East Lancashire”. After Members had been given the opportunity to ask questions on the operational aspects of his initiative, it was resolved the Borough Treasurer along with the PTM would prepare a report for submission at a future meeting, and a supplemental report upon the financial ramifications of introducing this Railcard scheme. Advanced notice was given that the ‘Mini-Cruise’ to the Shetlands, which had been a success in April, would be repeated between Friday, September 18 th and the 21 st . The itinerary would be the same and the tickets would be as before £76:00 and £55:00 for a child. Other ‘regular’ rail/road outings would operate over the summer to the Severn Valley & Cosford Aerospace Museum every Tuesday, from June 16 th to September 8 th , with fares of £8:30p and £5:60p. Every Wednesday until September 16 th , (with the exception of July the 29 th ), there would be trips to Snowdonia with fares of £7:00 and £4:75p for a child. Every Thursday the Cotswolds and Stratford-upon Avon were the destinations with tickets at £7:50p and £5:00, and these would operate up to October the

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