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Leeds - Skipton - Lancaster: best service ever?

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70014IronDuke

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I'm sure this has been reported somewhere on here, but not much made of it. From May, this route acquired, I think, two more workings, giving the line in total 8 return workings - although the first westward and last eastward originate/terminate at Skipton. (And are, I would imagine, carry very few passengers and little better than ECS workings.)

Granted, the new 07.20 off Leeds still does not reach Lancaster for an 09.00 office starting time, but it does feed into a Barrow train at Carnforth, enabling much earlier arrivals on the Furness coast that previously possible (except for the very, very early first train off Skipton).

Very good to see these improvements, however small. Is this the best ever service along the route?

My 2007 summer timetable has only 5 return workings, and one of those is just to/from Skipton. So pretty minimal. Let's hope passenger numbers increase accordingly in response to the frequency imrovements.
 
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yorksrob

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It's certainly the best I've ever seen it.

I've actually used the last train back to Skipton, and there were a few others on the train. It enables a much longer day trip to the Cumbrian Coast.
 

xotGD

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A couple of through services to Barrow might be worth trying to see if that stimulated more travel in that direction. Bad news for the cafe on Carnforth station, mind!
 

superkev

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A couple of through services to Barrow might be worth trying to see if that stimulated more travel in that direction. Bad news for the cafe on Carnforth station, mind!
I've always thought Leeds to Windemere would be a good summer or weekend earner. Roads from Leeds to the Lake district are torturous.
Needs someone with a bit of flair (not Northern).
K
K
 

30907

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I've always thought Leeds to Windemere would be a good summer or weekend earner. Roads from Leeds to the Lake district are torturous.
Needs someone with a bit of flair (not Northern).
K
K
I remember drafting a timetable for that back in the 80s. Since then the number of passenger trains through Carnforth has just about doubled, meaning that pathing them would be almost impossible, so it needs more than flair.
There are at least rather more connections via Bentham, even if only a couple each way are really good (at 2hr 45 LDS-WDM).
On the original question, I think the timetable in the years when BR was trying to route S and C traffic that way may have been about the same; the intermediate stations have never had it so good though!
 
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yorksrob

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Another plus point is that there are now some very decent facilities for those changing at Carnforth, in terms of the cafe, pub etc.
 

Bovverboy

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I've always thought Leeds to Windemere would be a good summer or weekend earner. Roads from Leeds to the Lake district are torturous.

How would you get a train from Carnforth to Windermere, though? Reversing at Lancaster?
 

yorksrob

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Am I right in saying you cant get from Carnforth to Windemere without reversing at Lancaster.
K

A train could reverse in Carnforth yard (or alternatively go direct to Morecambe and reverse there) but you can't get directly from the Carnforth platforms towards Windermere unfortunately.
 

Condor7

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A train could reverse in Carnforth yard (or alternatively go direct to Morecambe and reverse there) but you can't get directly from the Carnforth platforms towards Windermere unfortunately.

When the Settle & Carlisle was temporarily blocked at Dent a week or so ago a Freight going to Carlisle was diverted via Carnforth using Carnforth yard.

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/advanced/XCS/2019/07/31/2127

I’m not sure if passenger trains would be able to use this though?

Edit: Sorry that link has run out of time. The train was the 6Z57 Boston Sleaford sidings to Carlisle on 31st July operated by DCR
 

yorksrob

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When the Settle & Carlisle was temporarily blocked at Dent a week or so ago a Freight going to Carlisle was diverted via Carnforth using Carnforth yard.

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/advanced/XCS/2019/07/31/2127

I’m not sure if passenger trains would be able to use this though?

Edit: Sorry that link has run out of time. The train was the 6Z57 Boston Sleaford sidings to Carlisle on 31st July operated by DCR

When closure of the S&C was under consideration, the option for the remaining Leeds - Carlisle service was for it to go via Carnforth, reverse in the yard for half an hour, and continue up the WCML.

The TUCC had a field day when it emerged that passengers wouldn't be allowed to use the toilet whilst parked in Carnforth yard !
 

Class 170101

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I'm sure this has been reported somewhere on here, but not much made of it. From May, this route acquired, I think, two more workings, giving the line in total 8 return workings - although the first westward and last eastward originate/terminate at Skipton. (And are, I would imagine, carry very few passengers and little better than ECS workings.)

The last eastward terminates at Skipton as noted but it does have an Electric working forward to Leeds (all stations)
 

AndrewE

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It may be the best service ever (and is just what the passengers need) but the last time I used it I had a "lovely" ride in a Pacer all the way. You certainly know where the jointed track is still in use after that journey!
 
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