Todmorden Curve

[MidnightFlyer]

To drag matters back to the Lancashire / Yorkshire border, there's a railtour looking at doing the curve northbound (i.e. Tod-Burnley) on 12 April. First passenger-carrying train over the new track?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Also relating to the Calder Valley / Todmorden Curve / Copy Pit is the potential timetable redraft come May this year as part of the rejigging for North TransPennine. According to the consultation papers I've seen, the changes are:
- Blackpool North-York are retimed by some 15-20 mins (now roughly 10-15 mins behind of e/b and 5-10 mins ahead of w/b the Colne-Blackpool South all stations, on current times for the latter)
- Removal of Littleborough calls on the stopper via Bratfud - these now run as per the express to Hebden Bridge, with intermediate calls covered by extending the Rochdale terminator to Todmorden
- Additional TPE peak stops at Cross Gates

Links and additional info available here - scroll down a lot! My apologies if there have been fresh consultations and new proposals since.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

What is the latest infrastructural news on western-facing bay platform(s) at Rochdale railway station ?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

To drag matters back to the Lancashire / Yorkshire border, there's a railtour looking at doing the curve northbound (i.e. Tod-Burnley) on 12 April. First passenger-carrying train over the new track?

Any idea how many tours would use the Brewery Curve in a year ?

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Any idea how many tours would use the Brewery Curve in a year ?

Could literally vary year by year, I would guess at 2-3: it gets a fair bit of use on rare track tours out that way, and is also useful for accessing the ELR from the south.

 

[ianhr]

To drag matters back to the Lancashire / Yorkshire border,
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Also relating to the Calder Valley / Todmorden Curve / Copy Pit is the potential timetable redraft come May this year as part of the rejigging for North TransPennine. According to the consultation papers I've seen, the changes are:
- Blackpool North-York are retimed by some 15-20 mins (now roughly 10-15 mins behind of e/b and 5-10 mins ahead of w/b the Colne-Blackpool South all stations, on current times for the latter)
- Removal of Littleborough calls on the stopper via Bratfud - these now run as per the express to Hebden Bridge, with intermediate calls covered by extending the Rochdale terminator to Todmorden
- Additional TPE peak stops at Cross Gates

Links and additional info available here - scroll down a lot! My apologies if there have been fresh consultations and new proposals since.

Blackpool-York currently has, and always has had for as long as I can remember, an inexplicable 2 hour gap in an otherwise hourly service, between 18.29 and 20.29. Does anyone know why this is and will it be rectified in May 2014?

 

[John S2]

Blackpool-York currently has, and always has had for as long as I can remember, an inexplicable 2 hour gap in an otherwise hourly service, between 18.29 and 20.29. Does anyone know why this is and will it be rectified in May 2014?

This 2hr gap exists in both directions and is quite sensible in my opinion. Demand is lower in the evenings than during the day and rather than stop at 19:29 it makes sense to spread the last 2 services in this way so that potential passengers are not stranded.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

This 2hr gap exists in both directions and is quite sensible in my opinion. Demand is lower in the evenings than during the day and rather than stop at 19:29 it makes sense to spread the last 2 services in this way so that potential passengers are not stranded.

I wouldn't necessarily say demand is lower, and I don't think it's to do with spreading out the final services. The unit forming the 1900 arrival at Blackpool North runs off into the TMD presumably for servicing for operation the next day (I'll presume it forms one of the early morning York trains the next day), the 2020 forms the last York departure of the day. Certainly is an annoying gap in the timetable which mercifully seems to have been eradicated in the May draft (on a Saturday at least!).

 

[ianhr]

Yes, it is not as if the only traffic is Blackpool to Yorkshire, these trains are well used for interurban trips within E.Lancs, e.g. Preston-Accrington, Blackburn-Burnley, for which there must be plenty of demand in the evening.

 

[Eagle]

Although in both those cases there are also the Blackpool to Colne services that you can make those journeys on (albeit you'll end up at a different station in Burnley).

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Although in both those cases there are also the Blackpool to Colne services that you can make those journeys on (albeit you'll end up at a different station in Burnley).

Neither of which are what you would describe as central to the Burnley town centre in location.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Neither of which are what you would describe as central to the Burnley town centre in location.

Central is only a 5-7 minute walk, which is similar to a lot of towns in the UK, if not better. Manchester Rd is about 10-12 IIRC.

 

[Darren R]

Although in both those cases there are also the Blackpool to Colne services that you can make those journeys on (albeit you'll end up at a different station in Burnley).

And you'll also end up on a 142 in all probability! Fast journey on a 158 or all-stations on a Pacer...hmm, always a tough one that!

 

[edwin_m]

Central is only a 5-7 minute walk, which is similar to a lot of towns in the UK, if not better. Manchester Rd is about 10-12 IIRC.

Either of them is a lot quicker going into Burnley than coming out again Somewhere else that could do with a free town bus?

 

[AndyHudds]

Central is only a 5-7 minute walk, which is similar to a lot of towns in the UK, if not better. Manchester Rd is about 10-12 IIRC.

Its all down hill from Manchester Road too!!!

 

[Darren R]

Its all down hill from Manchester Road too!!!

It's all downhill from the moment you get off the train at any Burnley station!

 

[Lankyline]

New Network rail motto for Tod curve, build it and they will come...........eventually !

 

[YorkshireBear]

TPE calls at CrossGates is interesting? Where has that suddenly come from? Leeds York/Selby is crying out for electrification im glad its on its way. More local services needed.

 

[Deerfold]

Blackpool-York currently has, and always has had for as long as I can remember, an inexplicable 2 hour gap in an otherwise hourly service, between 18.29 and 20.29. Does anyone know why this is and will it be rectified in May 2014?

It's not that many years since the service was only every 2 hours at best. I seem to recall it becoming hourly by gradual infilling of services on the alternate hours, starting in the peaks and spreading out. Presumably it was never quite completed.

 

[L&Y Robert]

Central is only a 5-7 minute walk, which is similar to a lot of towns in the UK, if not better. Manchester Rd is about 10-12 IIRC.

Downhill, too.

 

[Deerfold]

Downhill, too.

And on the way back?

 

[Darren R]

Nah - it's downhill walking back to the station too: Burnley is a very strange place!

Now where did I put my tin hat?

 

[Bayum]

TPE calls at CrossGates is interesting? Where has that suddenly come from? Leeds York/Selby is crying out for electrification im glad its on its way. More local services needed.

They have done for ages now.

 

[YorkshireBear]

They have done for ages now.

Missed this completely! Spose i am wrong side of Leeds though.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Currently 1 w/b in the morning and 1 e/b in the evening. This rises to 3 and 2 respectively from May.

 

[Hebden Bridger]

Network Rail seem to be using the Holme Tunnel closure to carry out some major bridge repairs in Cornholme between now and the end of March.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Network Rail seem to be using the Holme Tunnel closure to carry out some major bridge repairs in Cornholme between now and the end of March.

Whilst they are working in Cornholme, they should look to see that the embankment retaining wall in the cul-de-sac at Victoria Street that had to be reinstated for the second time is still in good order.

 

[Hebden Bridger]

Whilst they are working in Cornholme, they should look to see that the embankment retaining wall in the cul-de-sac at Victoria Street that had to be reinstated for the second time is still in good order.

Good order! That wall was a disgrace, I don't know if it has been repaired properly yet.

Google streetview

 

[spongsdad]

Northern Rail are reporting that the work on Holme Tunnel is 48 hours ahead of schedule. https://twitter.com/northernrailorg/status/430652694987300864. I'm not sure how significant this is, though; it might bring forward the resumption of services into Yorkshire but it still doesn't help the commencement of services round the Todmorden Curve.

 

[YorkshireBear]

Northern Rail are reporting that the work on Holme Tunnel is 48 hours ahead of schedule. https://twitter.com/northernrailorg/status/430652694987300864. I'm not sure how significant this is, though; it might bring forward the resumption of services into Yorkshire but it still doesn't help the commencement of services round the Todmorden Curve.

They were 48 hours behind a few months ago so it is going very well.

Might make it a day or two early but it can easily slip back before the end of the project.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

They were 48 hours behind a few months ago so it is going very well.

Might make it a day or two early but it can easily slip back before the end of the project.

Was Friday, 28th March said to be the originally given date for completion of the works ?

 

[YorkshireBear]

Was Friday, 28th March said to be the originally given date for completion of the works ?

Believe so, so that gives 8 weeks for 48 hours to be lost. Easily done!