Accrington Railways - Robert Kenyon

TIMETABLE AND THE COST OF IMPLEMENTING THIS STRATEGY 7·1 The modernisation of all the stations on the East Lancs Line, (subject to acceptance of LCC’s capital programme of £110,000), with no date set for the commencement of this work.

CONCLUSION 8·1 This Strategy has described the effects of a continual lack of investment. There is recognition for the need for a continuation of the good practices by BR, to endeavour to improve the net revenue of each service. Equally there is an urgent need to inject some substantial revenue and capital not just to prevent a gradual but accelerating decline leading to the eventual loss of some services, but also to assist in the regeneration of Lancashire. 8·1·2 There is no doubt that the implementation of this Strategy, would have a significant impact on the future economy and the County Council wished to assist in any appropriate way with this Rail Strategy. The Secretary of State for Transport is therefore asked by the local authorities in Lancashire to give his immediate attention to the proposals contained in this Strategy, with particular regard to replacing entirely the fleet of DMUs and the electrification of the lines so identified. In addition the County Council believes - 1. There is an urgent need for substantial financial input by the Government into the railway network as a whole, to ensure that the level of subsidy and investment enjoyed by British Railways is at least on a par with that enjoyed by railway operators in other European countries. 2. The pressing need for the Government to prepare and publish a National Transport Plan. Admission tickets to the Edinburgh Tattoo would be distributed during the journey on the 1st Class Pullman Car train which operated on Saturday the 28 th of August. The fares, including admission, were £14:00 and £10:85p for children. Arrival in the Scottish Capital was at midday and the overnight return departed Waverley at 01:00. This train would also pick up in Rishton. The Pullman Train was in operation again on Monday the 30 th , this time to the Cumbrian Coast, where it would be hauled by a steam locomotive beyond Carnforth. The fares were £8:00 and £4:00 for a child. September A Mystery Trip from Accrington and Rishton was off on Saturday the 11 th , with fares at £7:00 and £3:50p. There was an Illuminations special on Saturday the 18 th , at £2:20p and £1:00. This departed town at 13:39, Rishton 13:35, arriving at North Station at 14:49, returning at 21:00 and back for 21:55 and 22:01. The Full Council met, when the Town Clerk referred the meeting to a minute of the Development Services Committee, relating to the former BR Railway Embankment Proposed Enforcement Action in Great Harwood, which the Borough Planning Officer had submitted. An amendment was moved and seconded that this resolution should be deleted and the following inserted in its place - “That an enforcement action should be deferred and that it should be referred back to the Development Services Committee for further consideration.” On being put to a vote, this amendment was carried. At a meeting of the Development Services Committee, it was reported that at their September meeting, the Full Council did not confirm the minute referring to the Enforcement Action on the land that had formed part of the former BR railway embankment in Great Harwood. The Borough Planning Officer drew attention to the reports which had been circulated to Members at that particular meeting. The situation was carefully explained, that in order to reserve the possibility of a continuous footpath between Heys Lane to that beyond Mill Lane in Great Harwood, there was a need for this to be obtained. Having illustrated this with the use of a map this decision was reaffirmed. Whitby was the destination of the ‘Rambler’ which ran on Saturday the 25 th , with fares of £7:20p and £3:60p. The timings were 07:49 from Accrington, calling at Battersby at 11:00 (18:23), Castleton Moor 11:24 (18:00), Glaisdale 11:40 (17:46), Grosmont 11:48 (17:35) and arriving in the resort at 12:05. The return left at 17:18. The ‘Capital Mini-Break’ would again be available on Mondays to Thursdays and Saturdays through to April 30 th , 1983, and was subject to the usual restrictions around Christmas and the New Year.

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