Accrington Railways - Robert Kenyon

Two days later, the Director of Planning & Economic Development reported to a meeting of the Development Services Committee, that an application would now be considered for the formation of a ‘Groundwork Trust’ during 1985/86. The local MP had stated that an application would be “looked upon favourably”, but that there had been 45 applications and of these only 4 would be assigned to authorities. However, having seen the criteria, it was decided not to make an application but to instead continue with the application for a Derelict Land Grant. Following discussions it was resolved that the proposed programme for 1986/87 would include co-operation with LCC for the reclamation of the disused Accrington to Baxenden section of British Railways line. October On Thursday, the 17 th , at 19:30, a Public Meeting was called by the Support The East Lancashire Line Association (STELLA), to discuss improvements to the services and rolling stock. Speakers included representatives from BR, Lancashire County Council, Hyndburn Borough Council and the Train Users’ Consultative Committee. Durham was the destination of the Ramblers’ excursion which ran on Saturday the 26 th , this time with a five car set made up of 59152-53424-51927-59390-52049. 1986 ( After years of lobbying for new rolling stock this was the year which saw the new ‘Pacer’ trains introduced into service on the local lines. Little did we know then that these would still be in service over thirty years on! ) J anuary Accrington was to receive a grant of £20,000 from LCC for improvements to the Railway Station, £4,000 of which would be allocated to resurfacing the car park and £1,500 on improving the access ramps. These improvements were the result of a survey carried out by Liverpool Polytechnic on the facilities along the East Lancs Line and proof positive, according to George Slynn, that the County Council was fully supportive of the railways in the County. February The new ‘Pacer’ trains, although not in revenue earning service, had been noted passing through Accrington on driver familiarisation turns. In a two-tone blue and white livery these units had a space for wheelchairs and automatic passenger activated doors which passengers could open after the conductor had released them. They could accommodate up to 121 seated passengers and could be reconfigured to accommodate bicycles and mail. Although only two carriages in length and based upon the railbus which was trialled on the line in 1983, they could be coupled in multiples of up to four units making an eight carriage train, but had no through connections from one to another. At a meeting of the Policy & Resources Committee, the Town Clerk submitted correspondence from the Secretary of the Transport Users’ Consultative Committee for North West England, about public hearings of objections in Appleby and Carlisle affecting British Railways proposals to discontinue passenger services between Settle Junction and Carlisle and those between Blackburn and Hellifield. It was resolved that Councillor Slynn would represent the interests of Hyndburn Borough Council, in addition to those from Lancashire County Council and he would be accompanied by Councillor Curtiss. A formal written submission would also be made. March On Saturday the 1 st , Lincoln was where the train made up of units 51794-59297-53709-51585 51581 visited on another Rambler excursion. At a meeting of the Highways & Transportation Committee, the Town Clerk presented correspondence from the Support The East Lancs Line Association (STELLA), concerning BR’s proposals to single the line from Gannow Junction to Colne. It was restated that Lancashire County Council and all the District Councils concerned had, in the strongest terms, expressed their opposition to this move when it was first suggested during 1981. For their part, BR had confirmed that this was not the first stage of total closure, but that it was a move to make the line economically viable and to reduce overheads. Hyndburn had however, expressed the view that this represented a downgrading of the East Lancs Line and therefore not given its support to this move by BR. It was resolved that Hyndburn Borough Council would continue to support STELLA in their opposition to this proposal. A Rambler was off again on the 15 th , to Leamington Spa, with the train made up of 51587-59580 51578-51586-59107-53733-51567-53926. It was announced that BR was to increase the fares in order, they claimed, to help pay for the new Pacer trains. MP Ken Hargreaves had written to BR’s Passenger Service Manager Mike Anderson, to protest that the fare from Accrington to Blackpool had gone up by 70p whilst from Blackburn it had only

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