Accrington Railways - Robert Kenyon

The tanker train ran again on Thursday the 28 th , but only got as far as Blackburn, where it terminated and did not go any further. It was noted returning east at 15:45 in the afternoon. February After a gap of over a week Colas Rail’s VTG tanker train was back in operation on Monday the 8 th , with a Class 70 in charge of fourteen double bogie tanks. The next occasion of its running was on Thursday the 11 th , when 70:802 was the motive power. It was noted that a lady was in the second man’s seat, so may have been instructing a new driver on the route and/or this type of locomotive. It was a day of other activity on Accrington Railway Station, as a team of workers were installing extra CCTV cameras high over the platforms. This I was informed was to enhance security on all stations along the East Lancs Line in a programme of similar improvements. Late during the evening Network Rail’s Track Measurement Train passed along the East Lancs Line, returning from Wigan to West Yorkshire just after midnight. In what has been described as the final push to have the Colne to Skipton line reinstated, the Skipton East Lancs Action Partnership had appointed the Scott Dawson Advertising to create a video to highlight the influential people who have lent their support to this project. It would also contain messages of support for the establishment of a freight handling terminal, on the site of the former Huncoat Power Station. Peter Bryson the Chairman of SELRAP, along with Amber Corns of SDA are both enthusiastic about the influence it will have in achieving its goal. On Monday the 15 th , there were more stock movements between Crewe, Gresty Bridge Freightliner and Balm Road depots in south Leeds. On this occasion the train was hauled by 66:591 with 90:009 and 90:014 ‘ OVER THE RAINBOW’ in tow. This last locomotive was in a predominantly orange, black and yellow livery. Due through Accrington at 09:40 it was running substantially early and passed through at 09:05. It appeared as though the Preston Docks to Lindsey Oil Refinery VTG tanks only runs on an ‘as acquired’ service, and its first running of the week was on Wednesday the 17 th , when it was double headed by 56:094 and 56:049 ‘ ROBIN OF TEMPLECOMBE’ . There were more locomotive stock movements on Monday the 22 nd . However, things did not entirely go to plan. The train was due to pass through Accrington at 14:50, but was held en route at Hebden Bridge for several hours. The locomotive in charge was 66:513 towing 90:009 and 90:014 and it eventually was over three hours late arriving in Crewe at 20:10. The Lindsay Oil Terminal to Preston Docks, which runs ‘as and when required’, was behind 70:805 on Tuesday the 23 rd . March Quite unusually on Monday the 1 st , the VTG tanker train was single-headed by a Class 56, on this occasion regular #049. There were more locomotive movements on Tuesday the 2 nd , when a Freightliner 66 towed another Class 90 east from Crewe to Leeds. On Wednesday the 3 rd , there was an unusual slant on the VTG train, as, having gone to Preston, the two engines 56:113 and 56:049 returned light at 10:30 having deposited the tanks on Preston Docks. The Preston  Leeds was also noted operated by a brace of 195 units, in this instance 195:007 and 195:017. On Sunday the 7 th , due to some track-work on the East Lancs Line, selected services were being replaced by buses/coaches during the morning. Strangely the trans-Pennine service going to York in the shape of 195:127 slowed through the station but did not stop. However, the other services noted to Southport and to Colne did, as they had passengers to pick up and drop off. The last of the trains to be refurbished by Northern, 158:861, has gone through the works of Arriva Traincare in Crewe. It was the 260th unit to be upgraded, with new toilets, better seating, enhanced lighting and a full repaint. The programme had cost in the region of £100 millions and would not end there, as there were plans to continue with Phase II. This would see the installation of on-board customer information screens, WiFi connections and better CCTV coverage. This second phase would see improvements to the performance and maintenance systems of the units. The Chief Operating Officer of Northern, Tricia Williams said, “This shows our commitment to making a positive impact for our customers across the North of England”. Exactly one year to the day after an Operator of Last Resort (OLR) was appointed to run Northern Trains Limited, the Department of Transport had granted a Public Service Contract. This was because the Government was of the opinion that Northern was a “financially unviable brand”. This meant that it would remain in the public sector for at least two years and could remain so until 2027. The duration of

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