Preston to Grimsargh line.

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I passed, while going from Bolton to Lancaster, what I presume was the junction for this line, just north of Preston station on the right hand side, with the track passing through new-ish buildings that I suppose are part of UCLAN.

What is the current situation regarding this line? Is it the one that used to serve a Mental Hospital...or was that another line?

 

[Lampshade]

Yes, it passes through the UCLan buildings which now occupy what was Maudland Bridge station and then up through Deepdale and Ribbleton, the stations at both places still extant but now derelict and privately owned respectively.

The trackbed is built on past Ribbleton but it would have continued north to Grimsargh where the line to Whittingham mental asylum branched off and Longridge.

I think the idea is to use the Ribbleton - Preston stretch for trams as this stretch was still being used for freight until the mid 1990s.

EDIT: More info here: http://www.prestonstation.org.uk/longridge.html

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I think the idea is to use the Ribbleton - Preston stretch for trams as this stretch was still being used for freight until the mid 1990s.

EDIT: More info here: http://www.prestonstation.org.uk/longridge.html

Is this line formation still in the plans for the tram system for Preston?

 

[Lampshade]

Is this line formation still in the plans for the tram system for Preston?

Not quite, the tram line would run on street level from the railway station down Fishergate (the high street) and Church Street, then up Deepdale Road, meeting the existing line just after Miley Tunnel, so trams won't be going through there. The trams would then call at presumably rebuilt stations at Deepdale Street and Gamull Lane as well as other intermediate stops in Ribbleton before heading out towards the industrial estates at Red Scar.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

There appears to be a thread on the Light Rail forum on trams in Preston and one of their postings mentions this line.