Cumbrian Coast line around Workington

[PhilipW]

With the news about all the road bridges in Workington being closed and the town being effectively cut in two, I have heard nothing about the rail line.

Does anyone have any news ? Is the rail bridge over the River Derwent still operational ? Are the Whitehaven - Workington - Carlisle services stiil able to run ?

 

[Oracle]

See my thread:

http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=28225&highlight=floods

There was nothing on the news about the railway bridge, but four 'bridges' have gone and the last road bridge has a crack in it so could go at any moment. I thought I saw on an aerial from a helicopter that the railway bridge was still there.

 

[Oliver]

See my thread:

http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=28225&highlight=floods

There was nothing on the news about the railway bridge, but four 'bridges' have gone and the last road bridge has a crack in it so could go at any moment. I thought I saw on an aerial from a helicopter that the railway bridge was still there.

According to "Live Departures and Arrivals" trains on the coast line are running normally.

http://realtime.nationalrail.co.uk/ldb/station.aspx?T=WKG

 

[Oracle]

From their website:

Northern Rail expects to run a normal weekday service on the Cumbria coast line between Carlisle and Barrow on Monday 23 November.

Some trains will have one additional carriage to help as many people as possible to make journeys by rail.

 

[A60K]

Thinking slightly out of the box, it would appear that the Northside area of Workington, which has been cut off from the road network into town, has the Cumbrian Coast line running through it without a station.

If that is the case, would it be worthwhile constructing a temporary platform to at least allow people to get the train into Workington? Alternatively, would it be possible to add a road decking to the railway bridge to allow limited road access, with a link to the signalling system?

I know these ideas sound a bit oddball, but there are precedents in slightly different circumstances.

 

[PhilipW]

A temporary station sounds like a very good idea indeed. I am sure a "cheap and cheerful" one could be erected quickly. It will take a long time to repair/rebuild the road bridges.

 

[tivoli]

I don't know the area at all, but surely an increased bus service north to Flimby station would enable those cut off to get back across the river

 

[dk1]

BBC News24 was aboard a very busy 'Northern' service from Maryport into Workington this morning.

 

[mbonwick]

Thing is, the Stagecoach garage that operates the services around Workiungton (Lillyhall it's called), is full to bursting with vehicles awaiting scrapping.

They really don't have many spares to run extra services. However if extra buses were drafted in from elsewhere (Carlisle depot have a lot spare) then maybe something could be put together, although it would still need approval from the Traffic Commissioner.

 

[Peter KS]

How about a Pacer shuttling backwards and forwards between a temporary 'Workington North' platform as suggested by A60K above and Workington station?

I don't know the area myself but could not the Pacer clear off the line as required onto the dock sidings to let the regular Nothern services pass through.

No doubt the regulatory mechanisms will strangle the idea at birth.

I am sure British Rail could, and would, have done it!

 

[mbonwick]

Unfortunately not, as the dock sidings cannot be accessed due to the land moving & yep, you guessed it, a collapsed bridge.

 

[madannie77]

Thinking slightly out of the box, it would appear that the Northside area of Workington, which has been cut off from the road network into town, has the Cumbrian Coast line running through it without a station.

If that is the case, would it be worthwhile constructing a temporary platform to at least allow people to get the train into Workington? Alternatively, would it be possible to add a road decking to the railway bridge to allow limited road access, with a link to the signalling system?

I know these ideas sound a bit oddball, but there are precedents in slightly different circumstances.

Not such an oddball idea, really. Network Rail think it is a good one, as well:

http://www.networkrailmediacentre.c...eleaseID=4831&NewsAreaID=2&SearchCategoryID=5

 

[Demps]

Duh, DRS are runnign an intrim service utalising 37's and 37's, and their own stock.

 

[poshbakerloo]

Ooh The new workington north station looks good. i watched the video about it on BBC. it will probs be there for quite a while.

 

[adambro]

Ooh The new workington north station looks good. i watched the video about it on BBC. it will probs be there for quite a while.

I'm just waiting for Network Rail to try to close it and all the local residents, having got used to having a station a little closer to their home, complaining about it. NR won't want people to get too used to using it!

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Ooh The new workington north station looks good. i watched the video about it on BBC. it will probs be there for quite a while.

 

[poshbakerloo]

I'm just waiting for Network Rail to try to close it and all the local residents, having got used to having a station a little closer to their home, complaining about it. NR won't want people to get too used to using it!

the land its leased on is for 2years, and it has to be there for as long as there isnt any road bridge. I cnt imagine it would be too awful just to keep it in the end?