umontu
Member
I hope they do it then.
As for the length of Kirkham Station, from another poster, sorry I forgot how long each were. :roll:
I can't see Poulton or Kirkham being extended then, probably not enough justification for it.
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Blackpool North
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I hope they do it then.
As for the length of Kirkham Station, from another poster, sorry I forgot how long each were. :roll:
I can't see Poulton or Kirkham being extended then, probably not enough justification for it.
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WestCoast
Established Member
Yeah, the Blackpool South XX.02 off Preston can get some very 'healthy' loads in the summer (often to the point of quite a few standing)! Always find the xx.19 off Preston towards Blackpool North (the stopper) quite busy, even in winter.
It's probably somewhat down to the fact that the buses to Preston from the Fylde are VERY slow compared to the train (most take more than hour from Blackpool to Preston - the train is half of that or less). Plus the bus station at Preston is the other side of town the railway station.
umontu
Member
I can remember trying to get between the bus station and the railway station in Preston, I endded up in Deepdale... Was a long time a go. :roll:
However I totally agree that the trains are quicker and if booked in advanced (difficult without a self service machine in Kirkham... Hint if Northern are reading this) I would almost always use them over the bus if they were more frequent, it is very annoying to see a 15X go full speed through platform 1 when people are waiting.
driver9000
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Kirkham platforms are 93m 
There is a booking office at Kirkham but I think it's only a part time office. Of the 5 trains that use Preston-Kirkham corridor 3 of them stop at the station and two of those are Blackpool North services. Only the York and Manchester Airport services pass through non-stop. Lengthening the platforms at Kirkham or Poulton is unlikely, especially as Poulton has only just been shortened.
I've known the Blackpool South service actually have to leave passengers behind due to the heavy loadings it often receives in the summer. At least match Saturdays sees a 153 tagged onto one of the diagrams on the Colne-Blackpool South circuit.
There is a booking office at Kirkham but I think it's only a part time office. Of the 5 trains that use Preston-Kirkham corridor 3 of them stop at the station and two of those are Blackpool North services. Only the York and Manchester Airport services pass through non-stop. Lengthening the platforms at Kirkham or Poulton is unlikely, especially as Poulton has only just been shortened.
I've known the Blackpool South service actually have to leave passengers behind due to the heavy loadings it often receives in the summer. At least match Saturdays sees a 153 tagged onto one of the diagrams on the Colne-Blackpool South circuit.
Doesn't surprise me at all - not that I have ever seen someone making the journey:roll:. That's why I said in the 'traditional' sense!
I nearly got in to trouble because of that; made a mad dash for the train at Poulton hopped on at last minute with the expectation of buying at the window at BPN. The bloody conductor had only rung ahead after departure and told the ticket office there no-one had got on at Poulton! Still serves me right for a) not buying before travel and b) not leaving enough time in my journey to get one.
driver9000
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Doesn't surprise me at all - not that I have ever seen someone making the journey
I'm always surprised when I pick passengers up at Layton heading into Blackpool North
umontu
Member
Kirkham platforms are 93m
There is a booking office at Kirkham but I think it's only a part time office. Of the 5 trains that use Preston-Kirkham corridor 3 of them stop at the station and two of those are Blackpool North services. Only the York and Manchester Airport services pass through non-stop. Lengthening the platforms at Kirkham or Poulton is unlikely, especially as Poulton has only just been shortened.
I've known the Blackpool South service actually have to leave passengers behind due to the heavy loadings it often receives in the summer. At least match Saturdays sees a 153 tagged onto one of the diagrams on the Colne-Blackpool South circuit.
It is part time.
Unfortunately I always seem to get to Preston when a train leaves for Blackpool North and doesn't call at Kirkham and Wesham, last Friday there were two! TPE and Northern leaving within minutes of each other and neither calling at K+W!
I got off the TPE train and I met a friend who had just got off the Northern waiting to go to Kirkham as well.
I've been on a south service with a 153, the guard stayed in the 153
The Blackpool South service is always surprisingly busy and I also think Kirkham will only get busier. Has it always had 3tph during the day to Preston? Put it like this, its usually a healthy load that gets on/off depending on direction.
Personally I think there is alot of suppressed demand on the South line for journeys to Preston.
Personally I think there is alot of suppressed demand on the South line for journeys to Preston.
driver9000
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Until December 2008 it was 2tph, the Blackpool-Liverpool service used to run non-stop (as it still does on Saturdays for some reason).
I agree that the South line has a lot of potential and there is supressed market, especially commuter wise. I've often said that Wrea Green is screaming out for a station as it's around 15 minutes from Preston and the comparable bus services are not attractive in taking nearly an hour. I'm certain there is an untapped commuter market there that currently uses private cars.
I agree that the South line has a lot of potential and there is supressed market, especially commuter wise. I've often said that Wrea Green is screaming out for a station as it's around 15 minutes from Preston and the comparable bus services are not attractive in taking nearly an hour. I'm certain there is an untapped commuter market there that currently uses private cars.
umontu
Member
I believe (as I've got two neighbours working for them and I've been on the site a number of times.) the site of Wrea Green station (former) is on Waring's (Farm yard shed builders) land, though they may have moved all their operations to the new site they have now though... possibly an opportunity for a platform.
lancastrian
Member
Also Wrea Green Station site is very close to the centre of the Village. To be honest I have never understood why they reopened Moss Side and not Wrea Green at the same time.
driver9000
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I think you're right Unmontu and it does seem a very lifeless site now, has done for some time. I would want to put the station on the Kirkham side of the bridge on the straight purely for ease of access from the bridge to any platform area and a gap between train and platform wouldn't be uneccessarily wide due to a curve. Moss Side loadings are always very light - if any at all, the most use it seems to serve is for the Guard of an Up train to press the plunger to start the level crossing sequence.
umontu
Member
Read my comment about Wareings
It is right at the bottom of their Mill yard which had HGV's moving around and loading, not to mention a shed with this (http://image56.webshots.com/156/4/29/73/424342973cMyxYe_fs.jpg) and a few other interesting things stored there.
WestCoast
Established Member
I would have to agree - its a really useful link connecting up the South Fylde. The bus service to Preston runs every 15 minutes along the same corridor to Preston - that must say something.
Perhaps something to do with the land issue with the previous Wareings builders yard at the time of Moss Side re-opening? But I do think Wrea Green station would get considerably more passengers than Moss Side does currently. I think Wareings are currently at their new site though on the main road though...
Yes, there is someone in there part-time, quite long opening hours though, something like 7am-6pm Mon-Fri? They could put a ticket machine in there though - if it was managed by TPE (not that it ever would be) it would have one.
Xenophon PCDGS
Veteran Member
Is there any truth in the rumour that the "mothballed" line from Poulton le Fylde to Wyre Dock is about to receive its final closure notice? If so, how will that affect any future plans for this line?
I'm always surprised when I pick passengers up at Layton heading into Blackpool North
I once got off at Layton to walk into Blackpool.......
........I got lost
Xenophon PCDGS
Veteran Member
I'm always surprised when I pick passengers up at Layton heading into Blackpool North
Could it be those people visiting Layton Hospital?
I was up in Blackpool a few weeks ago using the great value 7 North West Rover Ticket. The one thing that I found really annoying and inconvenient is the way that all trains on the route from Blackpool North to Preston leave within a few minutes of each other and then there's nothing for 35 minutes.
xx.20
xx.29
xx.37
xx.44
It is little better in the other direction from Preston to Blackpool North
xx.19
xx.34
xx.38
xx.55
I know 25 or 35 minutes is not long to wait in comparison to waits on some routes but it does seem bad planning. It also makes Blackpool North very crowded for a small part of every hour with queues waiting for departures and then nothing for 35 minutes.
On so many occasions I finished my breakfast at approx 9.30 am only to realise no departure I could manage before 10.20 and that was regularly a very crowded slow Class 142 service to Manchester Victoria!
xx.20
xx.29
xx.37
xx.44
It is little better in the other direction from Preston to Blackpool North
xx.19
xx.34
xx.38
xx.55
I know 25 or 35 minutes is not long to wait in comparison to waits on some routes but it does seem bad planning. It also makes Blackpool North very crowded for a small part of every hour with queues waiting for departures and then nothing for 35 minutes.
On so many occasions I finished my breakfast at approx 9.30 am only to realise no departure I could manage before 10.20 and that was regularly a very crowded slow Class 142 service to Manchester Victoria!
driver9000
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That is due to a clash in paths with the train coming off the Blackpool Sth line at Kirkham (xx:09)
I didn't know there was a hospital at Layton....
I didn't know there was a hospital at Layton....
alexdodds
Member
I have seen some photos of the station taken recently and it looks like Network Rail are carrying out works on the station. What sort is it i wonder?
driver9000
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They are repairing the concrete structure of the station.
alexdodds
Member
Oh right. I thought it might of been something to do with the reBlackpool project.
Xenophon PCDGS
Veteran Member
WestCoast
Established Member
I'm always surprised when I pick passengers up at Layton heading into Blackpool North
I wonder if the numbers tally with those asking for tickets from Layton at the Blackpool North barriers?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
The rail track takes a very direct route, the road arguably doesn't! Not trying to avoid those aforementioned barriers were you?
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lancastrian
Member
Me too, I have been banging on about the reopening of Wrea Green at every oppotunity here. The problem with the Blackpool South line is that in essence it is a long siding, no mean to pass trains, or to have more than one train at a time, so once a train enters the South line at Kirkham, nothing else can be there as well. Yes I know 'elf n safety' but it certainly does suppress demand. The real supprise is that this very limited service is still so popular.
I think that either doubling from Kirkham to Lytham, and then a passing loop St. Annes to Pleasure Beach. Or a long dynamic loop from a mile before Lytham to a mile beyond St. Annes. Ideally though it should be double track throughout and extended back to a 3 platform station at the sight of Central, with a platfrom alongside Bloomfield Road for when Blackpool are at home.
WestCoast
Established Member
I am a strong believer that the South Fylde line has enormous potential, as a regular user. It always attracts very healthy loadings, often to the point of overcrowding in summer. There is defiantly an attractive case for a half hourly service in the Summer months, along with station upgrades. Wrea Green station is a must as we've discussed on here.
Xenophon PCDGS
Veteran Member
Whilst we are on the thread of "Blackpool North", has anyone any views on the idea of the tramway extension to the train station that was proposed? Were they not preparing a triangular junction near to North Pier?
I once got off at Layton to walk into Blackpool.......
Hahah
You should see my blog
umontu
Member
Latest I've heard was a newspaper article when I was volunteering saying the MP for transport was discussing with the MP for Fleetwood (Or words to that effect) the potential for creating an easier relationship between the PWRS and Network rail with the aim of eventual purchase of the line by PWRS; well sort of. He was more concerned with getting goods trains to Fleetwood, he believes the line is important for redeveloping Fleetwood.
Reading on was worrying, apparently once the line is open the MP for transport thinks it would be an excellent idea to franchise the line... Could this even be possible, surely the PWRS would run on a lite rail order.
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