Direct Link To London For Cumbrian Coast

[Mike Redding]

I was having a look through the local paper this evening when i found this story:

A DIRECT train service from Whitehaven to London could be on the cards.

If the plans come to fruition, it would be the first direct service for about 50 years.

A rail operator has applied to run a number of services across the north of England, one of which includes a route from Carlisle to London calling along the west coast including at Whitehaven and Workington.

The proposal is to run four daily trains from December 2013.

Tim Knowles, transport portfolio holder for Cumbria County Council, said: “On the face of it this sounds a very interesting and exciting proposal. However we must bear in mind that this proposal will take a share of the funds available for rail operation in Cumbria. And, as a result, this could reduce the funding available to existing operators who have done a great deal to increase services in recent times.

“At present it is only a proposal and we await details with interest. I don’t think people should get carried away with it.”

Tony Potts, of Copeland Rail Users Group, said: “This would give easier access to London, rather than people having to change at Carlisle. The journey may be slower but it would be a through journey.”

The proposal has been submitted by Ian Yeowart, of Alliance Rail. Grand Central, of which Mr Yeowart was a former managing director, is however said to be considering its legal position as it claims to have registered interest in some of the routes Alliance Rail wants to operate.

http://www.whitehaven-news.co.uk/ne...your_comments_span_1_620897?referrerPath=home

Quite interesting, as the one direct service to Preston along the coast takes 3 Hours from Whitehaven, meaning that the service would take 5 hours (at a guess) to get to London. I've recently just come back from Newbury, and travelling through London, it took me little over 3 hours to get from Euston to Penrith, Then another hour in the car to Whitehaven - Total journey time about 4 hours 20.

Also interesting, the mention of Grand Central registering interest in some of the routes Alliance want to operate.

Surely it would be better to just strengthen the service between Whitehaven and Carlisle? Especially if HS2 gets a station there.

 

[merlodlliw]

Interesting prospect, is it really 50 years since the overnight sleeper EUS to Barrow/Whitehaven was scrapped? I was in the newspaper circulation industry in the 50s and 60s and recall the Barrow Sleeper going via Crewe, CRE was a news hub for the London dailies, I oversaw transfer of the papers when it was my turn from the London train to what was known as the little mail mixed TPO passenger ex CRE 0208 for stations to HHD, and the mixed TPO York to Aberystwyth also via CRE, time flies.

 

[Dai.]

Sounds like an alright plan, looks like Grand Central have their claws in the idea already though,

The proposal has been submitted by Ian Yeowart, of Alliance Rail. Grand Central, of which Mr Yeowart was a former managing director, is however said to be considering its legal position as it claims to have registered interest in some of the routes Alliance Rail wants to operate.

 

[43106]

As a former resident of West Cumbria (Seascale, then Beckermet), the idea of 1 train a day between Carlisle/Workington/Whitehaven/Barrow - Euston seems a bit extravagant - foolish, even, but 4 a day? What is the justification for this?
When the Workington - Euston services were discontinued in the late 1950's or early 1960's (which I remember seeing - just), there was a genuine need for them, with staff from Workington Iron & Steel (or whatever they were called), Marchon at Whitehaven, UKAEA at Sellefield, Millom Steel works and Barrow shipbuilders all needing a direct link to the smoke, but nowadays? I rather suspect that Ian Yeowart is just trying to keep his name in the news.

 

[tbtc]

I could see the logic in:

1. Beefing up the Whitehaven -Workington - Carlisle section to half hourly (maybe running more through trains to/from Newcastle via the Metro Centre)

2. Swapping some of the paths at Barrow so that the bi-hourly Lancaster - Barrow - Whitehaven - Workington - Carlisle service was part of the Trans Pennine direct service to/ from Manchester Airport/ Manchester/ Preston (thus giving a direct link between the coast and the city)

But I can't see that there's a need for four trains a day to London in the short term (yet another half baked idea)

 

[gordonthemoron]

bearing in mind the current sporadic, often single car, workings between barrow & whitehaven, I can't see any justification for this at all.

skegness to london via spalding on the other hand

 

[Mike Redding]

Isn't there a restriction on which trains can pass north of Maryport though? Something to do with the bridges being built to a smaller size by the Maryport and Carlisle railway? I could be mixed up with something else though.

I'd still be interested to see the plans, from both Alliance Rail and Grand Central.

It would be good to see more services from Whitehaven (or further south) to Carlisle, although i'm not sure it would be of great benefit to Northern, as the 30/31 bus service runs right through the town centres of Whitehaven, Workington and Maryport, and Workington Train station is a good 15 minute walk from the town centre. Maybe adding extra coaches to the current services, and making it a regular service would be enough.

Another thought, The X4/5 coach across the north lakes could be branded as a "rail link" for the mainline service from Penrith. Perhaps enhancing the service, creating faster runs, and extending it from Workington directly to Whitehaven and Maryport.

Still, i suppose we will see what happens in the years to come.