Accrington Railways - Robert Kenyon

In another retrograde step the ticket booking office at Nelson Station is to close, making the Interchange an unstaffed halt. I shall keep you in touch with any significant developments as they come my way, and hope sincerely that this information might be of some use to you in your campaign for better transport in our area. On both the 8 th , and the 9 th , the VTG tanker train was double-headed by two of Colas Rail’s Class 56 locomotives, numbers 56:094 and 56:105. This is unusual as the regular performer has of recent times been a single Class 60, - 60:085. The two 56s made an impressive sight and sound as they roared at speed up the incline from town and past the cricket ground. Following a visit to Colne Station, Transport Secretary Chris Grayling stated, “The historic link between Colne and Skipton could deliver a vital link across the Pennines to boost business and to move goods between the west and east much more quickly. I want this study to look clearly at the business case and value that the line could provide”. The Department for Transport along with Transport for the North was commissioning this study, which would report by the end of this year. The Skipton, East Lancs Rail Action Partnership has welcomed this study, in the hope it would prove the case for the reopening of the 11½ miles of line. It has been reported in the Clitheroe Examiner that the stations at Chatburn and Gisburn on the line between Clitheroe and Hellifield were to be reopened. The lines were of course still in situ, so it would just be a case of providing the necessary infrastructure. It was highly unlikely that the former stations at Rimington and Newsholme would be included. These areas had rapidly become a dormitory for commuters with quite a bit of new development, which might be the spur for presenting a business case for these station reinstatements. March More and more 150xxx units are now appearing through Accrington in the livery adopted by Arriva Northern Rail. Latest additions are 124, 140, 204, 211 & 276. Rail replacement coaches were once again substituting for trains on Thursday the 29 th , in the ongoing dispute over driver only operated trains. April On Tuesday the 3 rd , the VTG tanker train was double-headed by 56:078 and 56:113 of Colas Rail, which were proceeding at caution not being far behind the Manchester service. It had been announced that due to several delays in the modernisation programme, the through York to Blackpool North services would not be introduced until Monday, April 16 th . Only one train per hour would be going through to Blackpool North from the 16 th , but the line had reopened, so passengers off the York service would still have to change in Preston. I was told it would at least be another month before the service would be, as before, between Blackpool and York, but I suspected that it would not resume until the summer timetable was issued, which would be about the 18 th of May. The reasons given for the postponement from the intended March 26 th , were the strong winds which would not allow power lines to be fixed, the bout of extremely cold weather in March, which affected most of the country and a road accident responsible for damaging plant which is used for the installation of the overhead catenary. Electric trains would commence operating between Preston and Blackpool North on the introduction of the new summer timetable in May, meanwhile the cross-Pennine services would continue to operate between Preston and York only. Thanks in part to the local Rotary Club, Church & Oswaldtwistle Railway Station had received a welcome facelift. The old ‘barrel-type’ shelters had been replaced by a more accommodating style with two types of seating inside. Other improvements included the painting of the subway connecting the two platforms, which had also been netted to deter pigeons from roosting within. The Club was also preparing two large planters of flowers to replace the undergrowth which has also been cleared and replaced with four tonnes of chippings. A spokesman for the Club has said they are working with Network Rail in order to keep the facilities in the best possible condition. Similar improvements to the shelters on Huncoat Railway Station had also been undertaken. Once again on Monday the 16 th , the VTG tanker train was double-headed by two of Colas Rail’s Class 56 locomotives, this time by numbers 56:096 and 56:302. This pairing seemed to be the motive

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