Accrington Railways - Robert Kenyon

Still the Department of Transport’s Operator Of Last Resort and mindful of the fact that the majority of its diesel multiple units date back to the days of British Rail, Northern has given notice it is looking to place an order for 450 new units, to replace Class 150, 156 and 158 trains. First it will have to find a manufacturer, and then a leasing company who will agree to this investment. The specifications for these replacements include multi-mode propulsion as well as electric, or battery-electric powered sets, with the option of expanding them with the addition of extra centre cars, with a minimum service life of 35 years. It is even possible that there might be more than one company which owns stock procured in phases over a period of time. There has been a consistent flow of engineering trains passing through in the early mornings all pulled by Class 66s, whilst the track measuring train has also made sorties, after scheduled services have ceased. It appears that Class 56s have had resurgence on the tanker trains of late with Colas Rail’s 56:096 in charge during the week ending Friday the 22 nd . There might have been a problem with Colas Rail’s bitumen train on Tuesday the 26 th , as it did not make an appearance until 11:15, when it was noted going west towards Preston Docks. On this occasion it was double-headed by Class 56s only one of which was under power, which seems to suggest the train loco had failed en route, when it should have been returning towards Yorkshire before eleven. However, reports suggest that this combination of motive power would not be bringing the tanks back, as they were to proceed ‘light engine’ to Carlisle from Preston Docks. Locomotive Services Ltd operated ‘THE STATESMAN’ special from Hull via Leeds, Preston and Carlisle to Appleby, on Wednesday the 27 th . The locomotives involved had made regular appearances through Accrington in the recent past, 47:712 ‘ Lady Diana Spencer ’ in ScotRail livery and #1924 ‘ Crewe Diesel Depot’ in the two green livery into which it was first introduced into service. Having come down the Settle & Carlisle and the Ribble Valley lines, it returned through town at 15:14. The stock was all in Pullman colours. Following the unusual occurrence earlier in the week, Colas Rail’s tanks were back on schedule on Thursday the 28 th , with 70:807 in charge. It seems now that the bulk of these trains are now returning from Preston Docks to Haverhill in the North East, rather that Lindsey Oil Terminal near Scunthorpe. Saturday the 30 th , was the day when ASLEF went on strike again, in their long-running dispute over pay and conditions. This mean there were no trains running on the East Lancs Lines. October Accrington was treated to a visit from a steam engine on Sunday the 1st, when Jubilee 45690 ‘ Leander ’ passed through en route from Carnforth to the East Lancs Railway in Bury. It was hauling just one support carriage and was in Wartime black livery. It was new in March 1936 from Crewe Works. The first week of the month would see ASLEF on a ban on overtime working, which would have some effect on services, and on Wednesday another total shutdown. The Conservative Government has announced it has abandoned the Birmingham leg of HS2 to Manchester and is instead to invest £39billions in other railway projects, some of which will be spent in the north. Could this be the incentive for a concerted effort to obtain the funding for the reopening of the Colne to Skipton Line? After a period of several days on Wednesday the 18 th , the Colas Rail tanker train operated again from Preston Docks to the North East, this time behind 70:805. Earlier in the morning the engineers ballast train ran behind GB Railfreight’s 66:778. The procession of ballast trains has continued earl most mornings, which has been a prelude to work on the East Lancs Line, starting on Sunday 29 th , with Rail Support Services replacing trains, with similar to follow one week later. November It has been announced that the scheme which would have seen 974 railway station ticket offices closed, has now been abandoned. It comes after no less than three-quarters of a million people, including those representing the blind, the disabled and the aged, had protested that this move would have been a great disadvantage deterring people from using the trains. Approximately 60,000 of these were directed at Northern. It also centred around the inadequacy of ticket vending machines to advice on the best prices and routes available to the traveller. The Train Operating representatives state that only 12% of tickets are now purchased over the counter, with a growing proportion now bought on-line, and are angry with the Ministry of Transport of this government, who gave them the go-ahead to implement these closures.

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