The Weardale Line

[spoony]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/tees/8485037.stm

Daily passenger services are returning to a County Durham heritage railway line this summer almost 60 years after they were withdrawn.

The American owners of the Weardale Railway have announced plans for a new service between Stanhope and Shildon starting in May.

Five modern diesel trains a day will run in each direction using a new link to the rail network at Bishop Auckland

One for our northern based posters perhaps. What are peoples opinions on this? Seems a quite an ambitious project in my opinion although I wish them all the best. I am unable to find much out about this British American Rail Services company, but am I right in thinking they are proposing on operating a "proper" commuter service, rather than just a heritage railway? Apologies if this is in the wrong section or has already been posted.

 

[yorkie]

Brilliant for cycling the Waskerley Way! Will have to do a few trips this Summer. But unfortunate that it's a Pacer

 

[gingerheid]

Wonderful to see a line being re-opened, even if it is a shame about the stock.

Would be lovely if this worked and became a model for the Wensleydale and Ecclesbourne to follow...

... likewise... it's ambitious. I hope it doesn't become a failure that might taint similar efforts by similar lines!

 

[DaveNewcastle]

Well you're right Spoony, it has come up in other threads, but its still a good story.
The re-opening was last discussed here .
But I did want to point out that the company investing in this "preserved" railway actually have commercial reasoning behind it. They plan to open the Wolsingam Coal Loading Depot and run coal along the line to power stations such as Drax thanks to the line's reconnection to the national network.
There's a little info on their web site here

 

[142094]

I remember articles in the Northern Echo about the company, and they were saying that it would be unlikely for the railway to be commercially viable as a commuter railway without using it for freight as well.

The same situation exists at the KWVR, who want to run a commuter railway but it probably wouldn't be viable.

 

[Bish Boy]

Well we'll find out in the near future. The service will start tomorow class 141 during the week 5 round trips a day and some steam services at weekends.

 

[gingerheid]

Just comparing the timetable to it's public transport competitor's:

http://weardale-travel.co.uk/timetablesprices/Service 101 Timetable.htm

I want to see it succeed, but...

 

[DaveNewcastle]

Yes, the bus is about 12 mins quicker end to end.

I guess that the Weardale railway is stuck with the 25mph limit on "heritage line speed" whereas the busses zip up and down at quite, how shall I phrase this?, an impressive speed. You certainly wouldn't stand up in the bus until it had nearly stopped.

The ideal outcome would be for the Inspectorate to approve operations to National Rail standards, but what would the costs of all the signalling and works come from?

 

[spoony]

Thinking of taking a trip to Stanhope next weekend but I cant make out from their website if trains are running or not. Plus does any one know how you access the new platform from the current station?

 

[Bish Boy]

Yeah they should be don't think there are any steam trips yet they're still training drivers and firemen. The platform is very poorly sign posted as you exit Bishop station head up past B&Q follow the road round the side of the sorting office and its just down the path. I went up on the first one today they were sending junior club members to direct people from the station to the temporary platform. the 25mph is limiting however there are stretches which are limited to 5 mph because of subsidence and weak bridges i think this really does'nt help however a very enjoyable ride.

hope this helps.

 

[spoony]

Yeah they should be don't think there are any steam trips yet they're still training drivers and firemen. The platform is very poorly sign posted as you exit Bishop station head up past B&Q follow the road round the side of the sorting office and its just down the path. I went up on the first one today they were sending junior club members to direct people from the station to the temporary platform. the 25mph is limiting however there are stretches which are limited to 5 mph because of subsidence and weak bridges i think this really does'nt help however a very enjoyable ride.

hope this helps.

Cheers, although it now looks as though Ill have to go there on the bank holiday Monday which is a bit annoying as ill be passing nearby on Saturday/Sunday. Still I can get the train from Sunderland through to Bish and then change. Do you happen to know if its their published normal Monday timetable timetable next week?

 

[yorkie]

If anyone is interested, some of us are planning to take the train to Stanhope, then cycle along disused lines to Metrocentre, near Newcastle. This is a superb route to cycle along, and we can experience this newly re-opened railway too.

The trains connect quite well, but the ideal time for us would probably have been a train later than the first one, but earlier than the second one, connecting with the Northern terminating service between the two. But this is far better than nothing. I hope it is successful.

 

[spoony]

As a random thought, wouldnt it be nice to see them run regular services into Darlington Im sure Northern wouldn't mind terminating their Saltburn service at Darlington. The we could have a regular service up that line which could be on varied stock. Just noticed that the Mallard is moving to Locomotion so no doubt that will be another excuse to head off that way

 

[142094]

Bet Northern wouldn't be happy losing all the revenue from the line! Also, I guess 141s are not registered for mainline use as well.

Might be going up at the weekend for a look. Certainly will be using the chance to get on a 141 after a nice trip on a 142.

 

[spoony]

Bet Northern wouldn't be happy losing all the revenue from the line! Also, I guess 141s are not registered for mainline use as well.

Might be going up at the weekend for a look. Certainly will be using the chance to get on a 141 after a nice trip on a 142.

Everytime ive been on that line there has been about 10 people on the train max. Dont think Ive ever seen anyone board at North Road, Heighington. Mind I got off at North Road once, no doubt to the amazement of the guard

 

[142094]

Still, must be some sort of profit there to be made by Northern. No doubt more people would use it if the service was say hourly and faster to Darlington.

 

[spoony]

Still, must be some sort of profit there to be made by Northern. No doubt more people would use it if the service was say hourly and faster to Darlington.

I totally agree. Anyone in say Newton Aycliffe will no doubt get the bus as they are 10 a penny, yet the train is what 4/5 times a day max, and every two hours at that. That line could probably take a fair bit of money if it had a more frequent service. Especially with Locomotion and now the Weardale Railway on it.

 

[142094]

Well if the Tees Valley Metro project takes off, hopefully this will lead to better services.

Planning on going to the Weardale railway next week, get up nice and early for a lot of 14x action. Hopefully a HST on the way up and back as well, that would be a good day.

 

[Bish Boy]

Everytime ive been on that line there has been about 10 people on the train max. Dont think Ive ever seen anyone board at North Road, Heighington. Mind I got off at North Road once, no doubt to the amazement of the guard

Plenty full at commuting times but i agree lacking support at other times should be an hourly service. From bishop its both cheeper and quicker to get the train to darlington rather than a bus. Hopefuly weardale railway will boost passenger numbers and Northern will improve the service.

btw http://www.weardale-railway.org.uk/images/BAwest.jpg this is a map to the railways platform

 

[142094]

I was on either the penultimate or last train of the day from Shildon to Darlo after a night photo event at the NRM, and there was only me on for the whole trip, and no-one else got off at Shildon. I would have thought that this train would have been quite busy with people going into town for a drink.

I'm off to Stanhope tomorrow, just hope that the connections are good on the way back as I have only 10 minutes to catch the train at Bishop Auckland. Should be a good day out.

 

[spoony]

Plenty full at commuting times but i agree lacking support at other times should be an hourly service. From bishop its both cheeper and quicker to get the train to darlington rather than a bus. Hopefuly weardale railway will boost passenger numbers and Northern will improve the service.

btw http://www.weardale-railway.org.uk/images/BAwest.jpg this is a map to the railways platform

Thanks for posting that map. Thats really useful

 

[pinkpanther]

I totally agree. Anyone in say Newton Aycliffe will no doubt get the bus as they are 10 a penny, yet the train is what 4/5 times a day max, and every two hours at that. That line could probably take a fair bit of money if it had a more frequent service. Especially with Locomotion and now the Weardale Railway on it.

Back in the early 80s the service was far more regular - about every 40 minutes or so IIRC. It was usually reasonably busy, and at times (snow!) was the only way in or out of Bish.

That was of course from the original station (run down though it was by then, it still had real character) and on first generation (Metro-Cammell mostly) DMUs. Not a Pacer in sight.

I guess that the Weardale railway is stuck with the 25mph limit on "heritage line speed" whereas the busses zip up and down at quite, how shall I phrase this?, an impressive speed. You certainly wouldn't stand up in the bus until it had nearly stopped.

I believe they do have plans to up the line speed (with all that entails), but I would think that will take a little while to finance and organise. I imagine getting the new service up and running and sorting out the 5mph stretches will take priority, and quite rightly so.

 

[Spaceflower]

Ive only travelled on the Bish-Darlo train on a couple of occassions, but its been well used both times:roll:

 

[Bish Boy]

On a side note the Bishop Auckland Station Trust are doing an excellent job doing up the station building hopefully this will help passenger numbers too, also the new Cockton hill bridge makes the place look brighter. I hope Network Rail get there act together to sort a second platform at the station for weardale to use.

 

[142094]

Went up on Thursday, and had a good trip to Stanhope on the 141. The Bishop Auckland West station is a bit of a pain being away from the main station, but I was told that they are hoping to move it further down towards the mainline station in the near future.

As a warning, the connection times can be very tight. On the return from Stanhope we were about 10 minutes late, and the connection is only 10 minutes. We managed to make up about 3-4 minutes so a brisk walk to the waiting train was needed. It probably also helped that Network Rail were doing something with the signals which delayed the Northern train a bit.

The 141 had around 10-15 people on both ways, think most people were there just to see it running, and a few were going to Bishop Auckland. One woman was going into Darlington, so not really that many using it for onward connections.

 

[spoony]

Had a look over today and was quite impressed. Full 141 both ways and the price was a very reasonable £5.50 return from Bishop to Stanhope, then on home to Sunderland via Thornaby so had a good day out. Hardly anyone got on at Frosterly but I note that there is a good looking pub next to the station there that shall be investigated in the future It is something I would volunteer for if only I lived a little closer too. I liked the way you can see through the cab onto the track in front too Also good to see volunteers at Bishop Auckland station making the place look lovely with flowers and plants. Nice to see the local community take pride in their station. Hopefully the line can succeed as a lot of people have put a lot of their own time/effort into this.

 

[142094]

When I was on the guard asked if anyone was getting off at Frosterley, so it went straught through (so basically it was a request stop). Saved a bit of time, but wonder if they'll continue to do this or just as and when it's practical.

 

[Bish Boy]

When i was on the line there was talk of reopening harperly station but apparently its conditional on the POW camp reopening. That would probs be a requested stop too.

 

[142094]

Wonder if they'll extend all the way to Eastgate, especially since IIRC the development there got planning permission?

 

[Spaceflower]

I would be very surprised if that wasnt part of their plans for the future.