Accrington Railways - Robert Kenyon

(2) It was pointed out that Accrington passengers wishing to join the Fleetwood Boat Train from East Lancashire are required to travel on the 12:02 and then have to wait for 40 minutes at Blackburn for a train which travels via the Padiham Loop Line. It is felt that this train should be routed through Accrington, because there is a margin at Fleetwood of 40 minutes for passengers to board. (3) It was pointed out that passengers travelling from Liverpool by the 13:40 or the 14:20 had under the current arrangements to change in Blackburn, where they had to wait for 20 and 35 minutes for a connection to Accrington. This was considered to be very unsatisfactory. (4) The L & Y was asked to relieve the inconvenience of there being no departure from Liverpool for Accrington between 18:45 and 20:20. (5) It was also suggested that an extra train should be run from Preston between 18:54 and 20:20. (6) The Railway Company were requested to run the Sundays 20:20 from Accrington to Colne all through the year. BETWEEN ACCRINGTON & WIGAN (1) In order to connect with the 08:30 from Blackburn to Wigan, passengers from Accrington have to catch the 07:35 and then have a wait of 38 minutes in Blackburn as this train misses the earlier train from Blackburn by a margin of only 7 minutes! (2) Passengers from Accrington to Wigan travelling by the 19:08 train have a half-hour wait in Blackburn. This is the last through service of the day and if it could be put back Accrington passengers might then be able to catch it by using the 19:49 train. (3) Frequently the 10:45 departure from Blackburn has left before the 09:40 train from Wigan has arrived, thus leaving passengers stranded until the 11:32 departure. This results in a journey time of over two hours for a journey of just twenty-three miles in distance. (4) The same problem occurs with the 10:30 from Wigan, which incurs a 40 minute wait for a connection GENERAL (A) At present the Paxton Street entrance to Accrington Station is closed all day on Sundays. The L & Y was requested to keep this door open at all times, even if it is just for the purpose of exiting. (B) Bitter and frequent complaints have been received about the continual missing of onward connections at Preston Junction Station. The Railway Company is asked to fix these booked connections in order to avoid this inconvenience. (C) Attention is called to the inadequate facilities at Preston Junction Station. These included no refreshment room and poor waiting facilities. Since there is a considerable amount of changing trains and waiting there, it is thought something should be done in order to improve the situation. (D) Complaints have been raised about the cheap tickets afforded to residents of Burnley in order to attend cricket matches at Old Trafford, these privileges are not extended to the cricket enthusiasts from Accrington. (E) Regular complaints have been made about the amount of time wasted in collecting tickets at Church Station. (F) Attention is drawn to the great inconvenience caused to the people who reside in the south-west district of Accrington, which is the fastest growing population in the town, at the lack of ‘direct’ access to the platforms at the Railway Station. September A meeting of the Finance Committee heard a letter from Mr J. H. Stafford, the General Manager of the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway Company, it read as follows - Dear Sirs, The subject of your letter of August last has been under consideration by my Directors, and I have been requested to inform you that they cannot see their way to change the decision previously conveyed to you with regard to the provision of a footbridge between Scaitcliffe Street and the platforms of Accrington Railway Station. In the first place the cost of such a scheme would be very large, and there would be in the unlikely event of this work being carried out a great disadvantage to dealing with passengers, as it would offer the people the opportunity to travel without first obtaining tickets at the booking office, unless of course, a large and additional expense was incurred by providing extra booking facilities. As regards to the proposed opening of the door at the Paxton Street entrance on Sundays, this is already done for the purpose of allowing passengers a convenient means of exit. But if it were to be left open continuously, there is every probability persons would enter the station that had no business to be there, and that these people would join the trains.

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