Accrington Railways - Robert Kenyon

Since Fraser Eagle are responsible for co-ordinating the provision of suitable vehicles for over 50% of the TOCs (Train Operating Companies) nationwide, it would be surprising if 2000 had not been a bonanza year for the company. The big names that have them signed up include Virgin, GNER, and ScotRail. November On Saturday the 18 th , the St James Tripper started in Rose Grove and visited of Oxford. With their ‘ Dreaming Spires Express ’. Motive power was provided by 31:468 with 31:602. 2001 ( With light rail now re-establishing itself as a viable alternative to heavy rail, [trams against trains], the possibility of developing a system to serve East Lancashire was being seriously considered. Tram-trains capable of operating on the railways and also at street level were already operating on the continent and due to their flexibility, were another avenue which would also have beneficial environmental implications for already traffic polluted areas. ) January At a meeting of the Policy & Resources Committee, the Chief Executive sought the support of Hyndburn Borough Council for the reinstatement of the railway service between Blackpool North and Yorkshire, following the refranchising of the Trans-Pennine Express services. A draft of a letter it was proposed to send to the Portfolio Holder for Transport was read out, and it was resolved that a copy of this correspondence would be forwarded to Sir Alastair Morton. Saturday the 13 th , would provide an opportunity to observe Fraser Eagle’s Rail Support Services close up. A section of the East Lancashire line between Accrington and Burnley was closed due to engineering works. This of course meant a total suspension of train services, and the provision of a replacement bus/coach service. Northern Spirit’s Blackpool - York - Scarborough services were also suspended. Further to this the local all stations, Blackpool South - Preston - Colne services, operated by First North Western, were terminating at Accrington. Although still on hand to issue tickets and dispense information, the staff at Accrington were directing passengers to either side of Blackburn Road, in front of the Imperial Public House in order to board the vehicles bound for Colne. Similarly passengers alighting from the replacement transport from the Colne direction were being escorted up to Platform 2 of the railway station to board the train, which was then turning back in the Blackburn direction. The same rather unfortunate location, due to its close proximity to the traffic lights, was also the stopping off place for the coaches working the Trans-Pennine cross-country services of Northern Spirit. On Sunday the booking office at Accrington Station was open, which in itself is a most unusual event, but no doubt for the dispensing of information on the alternative travel arrangements, rather than for the issuing of tickets so full marks to the railway operators for providing that service, but no marks for advanced publicity of the line closures. The only good indication that came out of the weekend’s disruption was the feeling that with engineering work on this scale being undertaken, it was highly unlikely that the line has been shortlisted for closure, which was a rumour that has been going around for years, especially concerning the single track section from Gannow Junction, just beyond Rose Grove, through to Colne. In what had now become a regular event, the top managers from First North Western visited Blackburn Station on Tuesday the 16 th , to meet the customers. The visit was timed between 16:00 and 18:00 to coincide with the afternoon peak, so as to give regular passengers an opportunity to air their views on the local services that the Company operates between Preston and Colne, (and between Bolton and Clitheroe). The team of five managers, headed by Mr Paul Bunting, were able to reassure passengers, at least those who were not rushing to get home for tea on a bitterly cold evening, that weaknesses in the standard of service were being addressed and that the overall news was good, in that extra investment was on the way. ( It was not known whether Northern Spirit's performance had changed over the same period, and if they had taken any trade away from First North Western .) This visit came on the heels of the news that passenger numbers on the line had fallen by approximately 20% in recent months. This compared to a drop of 50% on Virgin Trains over the same period, a time that had witnessed major upheaval all across the rail network. The East Lancashire line had not suffered to the same extent as many other lines from speed restrictions, but First North Western services did connect with Virgin’s West Coast InterCity trains at Preston, so the two were not entirely unconnected and many would have switched from the railways to other forms of transport as a result.

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