Accrington Railways - Robert Kenyon

The publication of a study by the ‘Central Trans-Pennine Corridor, East/West Connectivity’ which was commissioned by the Lancashire Local Enterprise Partnership prepared by Wakefield consultants Systra & Cushman, had given more power to the Skipton - East Lancs Rail Action Partnership more ammunition in its campaign to have the line reopened between Colne and Skipton. It stated that the economic and social benefits would justify the expenditure of having the line reinstated. It would give better access to high quality jobs for residents in East Lancashire which are based in West Yorkshire via the Airedale Line into Leeds. The campaign to reopen the Martholme Viaduct on the disused North Lancs Loop has taken a huge step forward, as the Martholme Greenway Group has been successful in obtaining a grant of £33,900 to improve the pathways along the route to Simonstone. The listed structure opened in 1877, is part of a plan to join up with the Padiham Greenway to enable walkers to ramble from the west of Rishton all the way to Rose Grove. However, one stumbling block could be the caravan part which now straddled part of the old trackbed near Read. On Friday the 28 th , members of the RMT Union were out on strike in their dispute over driver only operated doors on trains. Observations showed that a service was being operated on the Manchester line by a couple of single 150xxx units, whilst all the other services were being replaced by coaches. The usual suspects were on duty all of which were ‘local’ to the Borough. With the season of special excursions underway and the Settle to Carlisle line opened throughout for the first time in eighteen months after a major landslip, the West Coast Railway Company were again on the move. On the first of the month the empty stock for the following day’s trip, which could be behind the Flying Scotsman, was being moved east through Accrington in the early afternoon. The rake of coaches was topped-and-tailed by 47:318 and 47:313 in the maroon and gold livery of the private company based in Carnforth. Another strike by members of the RMT took place on Saturday the 8 th , in the ongoing dispute over driver-only operated doors on trains. Rail replacement coaches were again on duty, but one problem that the co-ordinators were having in Accrington, was that some coach drivers were turning up at Paxton Street side of the railway station, as they did before the new facilities were opened several years ago. I’m told that the signage on the station itself was by no means clear, and that one co-ordinator was having to visit the platforms regularly to shepherd passengers down to the waiting coaches on Eagle Street, whilst one member of the station staff was just looking on. June On Sunday the 25 th Accrington Station was the point where trains coming in from the east were terminating and turning back, with coaches taking over passengers going west to Blackpool, Blackburn and Preston. Trains were then awaiting coaches coming in from the west to take passengers back to Colne, York and Manchester. July The dispute about driver only trains to be introduced by Arriva Northern Rail, provoked two more days of industrial action, on Saturday the 8 th , and again on Monday the 10 th . So rail replacement coaches were out once again covering for services which were having to be cancelled. Usually on Sundays these stoppages take place, but it appears that the RMT felt that this time they would have more impact by coming out on two days when traffic is heavier than just the one. On Monday the 10 th , some services were operating, but coaches from B & N, Coastal of Wharton, GPD, Mayfair and Swans of Chadderton. Coastal was on the service to Burnley Manchester Road and Todmorden. After what seems like a long period of absence the VTG Tanker Train has made a re-appearance towards the end of the month with Colas Rail’s 60:087 in charge. August My contact on the Rail Replacement Services front told me that she has had a change of management, and no longer works for Serco/Abelio, as they have all been transferred to the Arriva management. This has probably come as a consequence of the franchise changing hands from Northern Rail to Arriva Trains North. She of course was one of the original Fraser Eagle passenger assistants, and has also worked for First when they were in charge of the ‘rail support services’. October Members of the RMT Union were out on strike again on Thursday the 5 th , in the ongoing dispute over driver-only trains, even though Arriva Trains North doesn’t yet have any which can be operated by this method. As before some services ran whilst others did not. I can understand that there are areas where driver-only trains could be operated in safety, but on the East Lancs Line there were so many un-staffed stations unless there are ticket dispensing machines and/or guard conductors on the trains a lot of revenue

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