No direct service from Colne to Blackpool South anymore

[AlastairFraser]

If 769 reliability improved a bit, would Preston to B'pool South work better then? Perhaps link it to a Liverpool via Wigan?

 

[Bald Rick]

If 769 reliability improved a bit, would Preston to B'pool South work better then? Perhaps link it to a Liverpool via Wigan?

It works fine now!

 

[AlastairFraser]

It works fine now!

Except the fact it's a Sprinter and a 769 could mop up the crowds better in Summer.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Except the fact it's a Sprinter and a 769 could mop up the crowds better in Summer.

2x150 and 1x769 are to all practical intents and purposes the exact same thing.

One advantage of separating off Blackpool is that Ormskirk and Colne only really need 2 car basically all the time (single 153 was fine for Ormskirk for years) but Blackpool might need 4 at busy times. This saves units or shunting faff.

 

[Starmill]

Except the fact it's a Sprinter and a 769 could mop up the crowds better in Summer.

As hinted at above, a double 150 or 150+156 are already diagrammed on the holiday weekends.

 

[AlastairFraser]

As hinted at above, a double 150 or 150+156 are already diagrammed on the holiday weekends.

But a single 769 is better for rev protection and unit utilisation too.

2x150 and 1x769 are to all practical intents and purposes the exact same thing.

One advantage of separating off Blackpool is that Ormskirk and Colne only really need 2 car basically all the time (single 153 was fine for Ormskirk for years) but Blackpool might need 4 at busy times. This saves units or shunting faff.

Colne would need much more if it was properly served, but that's a separate topic.

 

[Starmill]

But a single 769 is better for rev protection and unit utilisation too.

No onboard revenue protection would be carried out regardless if the trains are full and standing. The train conductors won't ask for tickets if they can barely get down the train, nor can they really be expected to.

 

[L+Y]

There's another potential opportunity there, too - if you can convince Merseyrail to move the buffer stops to Burscough (which has grown hugely and continues to do so, heading towards a conurbation with Ormskirk and very much starting to justify say 2tph to Liverpool) you could do hourly with one unit.

I'd broadly agree with this- Burscough is probably the natural "break point" of the bits of West Lancs that look to Liverpool and the bits that look towards Preston.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I'd broadly agree with this- Burscough is probably the natural "break point" of the bits of West Lancs that look to Liverpool and the bits that look towards Preston.

Plus Burscough will be as connected to Ormskirk within maybe 30 years as once separate Aughton is now - housing developments are rapidly filling in the gaps.

Rufford by contrast is properly rural, and Croston very much looks towards Preston and Chorley.

My personal view on the whole thing overall is that the Curves should be reinstated and the direct line mothballed, and Burscough Bridge become an interchange between Southport-Manchester, Merseyrail and an hourly single unit Preston service. But for now get more batteries fitted and just move the buffer stops.

 

[AlastairFraser]

No onboard revenue protection would be carried out regardless if the trains are full and standing. The train conductors won't ask for tickets if they can barely get down the train, nor can they really be expected to.

Well, the separation of the units coupled together in the 2-156 configuration slightly reduces capacity, so it's up to Northern.

 

[PacerTrain142]

Well I travelled on this line on Wednesday for the first time in four years. Went to St Anne’s (Between Preston and Blackpool South). Was going to go last week but check on national rail enquires most of the trains between Preston and Blackpool South were cancelled. Checked again on Monday and all trains running. So went to St Annes on Wednesday. The train to Preston was fine (and was unusually quiet) but the train from Preston to Blackpool South was cancelled. Would have been about an hour and 45 mins till the next train. Luckily checked my phone and managed to find a bus from Preston to St Anne’s. Caught the bus by the skin of my teeth. But the bus took an hour whereas the train only takes half an hour. While in St Anne’s, checked my phone and most of the trains from Blackpool South to Preston were cancelled. Got the 18:40 train back from St Anne’s to Preston (which was running late and heaving due to all the previous trains being cancelled). It also didn’t help that they only put on a 2 coach class 156 sprinter unit. The driver managed to make up a bit of time by pretty much just whacking the train straight into full power when leaving stations (giving some nice thrash) so just about made my connection at Preston. But not good at all from Northern. So much for this Preston to Blackpool South service being more reliable…

 

[Elecman]

Has there ever been a (through) line bridging the gap between Blackpool South and Blackpool North?

Even in its pre 1964 heyday, the line from Blackpool South only ever continued to the one-time fourteen platform terminus at Blackpool Central.

No there hasn’t