And one last comment before the thread goes too far off topic, the problem with the Colne branch is not the infrastructure per se: it's the fact that it's used by the same trains that use the Blackpool South siding. Gannow Junction to Colne takes 20 minutes. The problems are caused because incoming and outgoing trains have to pass each other at Rose Grove because of timings at Kirkham & Wesham. Timings there are fixed, and the rest of the timetable revolves around this. If the Colne trains started instead from Preston, a much more robust timetable could be drafted. But that really is for another thread in another section!]
Ok, do we know where the people who actually use the Colne branch want to travel TO? Manchester? Preston? Blackpool South?...I suspect quite a few just go to other E.Lancs towns. I doubt many want to go to Blackpool South apart from on Summer days out.
Perhaps the Blackpool South line should be run as a shuttle from Preston if this would improve reliability. My suggestion for a through working was that this is often promoted as a way of reducing terminal costs and obtaining better rolling stock utilisation. I gather that few trains will turn at Man Vic once all the improvements are implemented, with electric trains turning at Stalybridge and DMUs at Rochdale.
If the Rose Grove-Colne timing is 20min then a half hourly service could be provided as a shuttle from Rose Grove, with one unit if some way of turning it there could be found without conflicting with trains to/from the Copy Pit line. I really do think SELRAP is a daft proposal, a fantasy with ZERO prospect of implementation whereas increased frequency on the existing Colne branch could be achieved cheaply and quickly and benefit more people.
There are two ways that this service could be better.
1. Separate the Preston to Blackpool South service from the Preston to Colne service, not only would that mean you weren't reliant upon train completing their running to time on what are basically TWO long sidings.
2. Just run the services on an hourly basis from Preston to Bradford, and possibly further and run the Rose Grove to Colne service as a shuttle.
This could be done very easily. The former Colne bay at Rose Grove still exists, howbeit over grown and on the part of the platform that is fenced out of use.
If this was reopened and the trains ran wrong line from Gannow Junction into that platform then the trains could be kept in the bay while the main services called and people could get straight onto the trains, which would be much better than having to wait on what is basically just a plain platform.
Obviously the service could be left as a Blackpool South to Colne service IF a dynamic loop was installed from Lytham to St Annes, including double track through both those stations and another one perhaps from Burnley Central to Brierfield.
Although you may be right concerning SELRAP, personally I believe the day will come when what they are proposing will be built, simply because the Oil will run out.
