Accrington Railways - Robert Kenyon

August The first stages in the construction of the new eco-friendly railway station for Accrington had finally got underway. The two storey building, the basement of which would be below ground level, required that a deep hole would be necessary and in the final days of the month the car park had been closed for excavations to commence. Although unrecognisable, some of the masonry being exhumed no doubt formed a part of the original East Lancashire Railway structure, which had occupied the site from 1846. At a meeting of the Highways & Transportation Committee, the Borough Engineer reported that Network Rail intended to carry out works to the barriers at Huncoat level crossing during September. This would involve the replacing of the gates with lifting barriers, and this would necessitate the closing of the road to all vehicular traffic for a period of three weeks. He also reported that NR would apply to the Minister of State under Section 66 of the British Transport Commission’s Act 1957 for an Order permitting them to carry out this work, but that the Council could in accordance with this Act make representation to the Minister within two months of this date if they felt it necessary to stop this work. It was resolved to make an application to the Minister of State against this Order. September It wasn’t all good news for rail travellers in North East Lancashire however. Improvements on the Ribble Valley  Manchester line due to funding being targeted elsewhere had not been included in Networks Rail’s Utilisation Strategy for the period 2009 to 2014. Also deferred was the plan to reinstate the connection between Todmorden and the Burnley line at Hall Royd Junction, ( the Todmorden Curve ), which would give commuters a direct route to Manchester. Again no progress was anticipated prior to 2014. At a meeting of the Full Council, the leader reported he was in receipt of correspondence from the head of Rossendale Borough Council, seeking support from Hyndburn for a ‘commuter’ railway service from Rossendale through to Manchester. It was resolved this matter would be considered by the Cabinet when it would be recommended that some support would be forthcoming, on the grounds of the economic advantages that this could offer to the area of North East Lancashire. The following day, Hyndburn Cabinet met and the deputy leader presented a report on the proposals to develop a commuter services on the railway line between Manchester and Rossendale. This report also contained details of progress being made in respect of improvements to the link by rail between North East Lancashire and Manchester. A report on these proposals informed the Cabinet that ‘Rail Utilisation Strategy’ (RUS), for Lancashire and Cumbria had set out Network Rail’s plans for investment during the next decade. It did not consider that a railway service linking Accrington with Manchester via Burnley and Todmorden would justify the infrastructure and operating costs. It was resolved that Hyndburn Cabinet would support the proposals for a rail commuter service linking Rawtenstall with Manchester, and a letter was sent to the leader of Rossendale Borough Council informing them accordingly. The Land Committee met when the Planning Officer reported, that the Council had leased land from BR’s Property Board for use as a car park on Eagle Street, and the entrance to this car park was also over land owned by the Railway Property Board. As had been previously reported, BR had previously agreed to lease the land adjoining Eagle Street and Scaitcliffe Street for the construction of a Skill Centre, and in order to secure the most satisfactory planning objectives, the Planning Officer had initially agreed in principle to the access by vehicles should be the same as that to the car park, and then to construct a new entrance to the car park further down along Eagle Street at the expense of the Property Services Agency. He now requested the Committee’s approval to his actions as already taken, in order to formalise the matter between the Property Board, the Property Services Agency and Hyndburn Council. It was resolved to accept and approve the actions of the Planning Officer and to adopt this policy. October There was not much joy for East Lancs rail users in Northern Rail’s 2008 - 2014 Route Utilisation Strategy. It appeared unlikely that the junction at Hall Royd would be reinstated to give passengers from Burnley a faster and more convenient journey to Manchester than was now possible with changes at either Blackburn or Hebden Bridge. There also appeared little hope that the frequencies on the Bolton  Clitheroe service would be increased from the present levels. Since most trains loaded at less than 50% capacity apart from at peak and holiday times, extra stock would not be made available to lengthen trains. On a more positive note the trackbed of the Colne to Skipton line was to be protected against any further developments, and some improvements would be made to ease speed restrictions on the Rose

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