Future of the South Fylde line (part 2)

[Lytham Local]

As someone closed the previous thread down Here

Minor update from the local MP:-

"Work on our successful Restoring Your Railway bid for the South Fylde line has already begun.
The Government backed the scheme, to install a passing loop on the line and double services, and handed us up to £50,000 funding to form a Strategic Outline Business case for the next phase of the programme.
We took part in an initial workshop to look at the next steps needed, and have now met with Fylde Council and Network Rail about various parts of the project.
Although only a short document, the business case needs a huge amount of work carrying out and we are looking at the costs for Network Rail and an experienced engineering firm to provide us with estimates and projections for the line.
We will have to look at timings on the wider rail network and capacity at Preston Station as part of that document.
I'm grateful for Community Rail Lancashire who are sharing their expertise and partnering with us on the project; I am determined we will see at least two services per hour on this under-used line, making it a viable option for commuters, students, residents and tourists."

 

[47434]

I truly hope this study leads to funding. The cynic in me thinks though it is more brass in the pockets of consultants and the South Fylde will remain a long, unreliable siding for some years to come

 

[Bald Rick]

The cynic in me thinks though it is more brass in the pockets of consultants

Who do you suggest does the study work then?

 

[A0wen]

I truly hope this study leads to funding. The cynic in me thinks though it is more brass in the pockets of consultants and the South Fylde will remain a long, unreliable siding for some years to come

And if the study comes back with proposals which have no tangible benefits?

Surely the point of such studies is to help identify whether there are benefits to investing in changes. And if not consultants, who have specialist knowledge, aren't the right people to do such studies, who do you suggest ? Presumably somebody who gives the answer you want ?

 

[Bald Rick]

The interesting thing with this proposal, is where are the trains going to go at Preston. Especially with the Fleetwood line proposal on the blocks too.

 

[Elecman]

The interesting thing with this proposal, is where are the trains going to go at Preston. Especially with the Fleetwood line proposal on the blocks too.

Colne and Ormskirk? Or turn the alternate service at Kirkham

 

[A0wen]

Colne and Ormskirk? Or turn the alternate service at Kirkham

If you're going to terminate it at Kirkham then surely turning it over to the Tramway and either connecting it to the Tramway around Squires Gate or extending it into Blackpool town centre from South would make more sense ? It's never going to justify a heavy-rail extension. Terminating at Kirkham and running trams would surely be a better way forward ?

 

[Bletchleyite]

Colne and Ormskirk?

I personally like the tram idea (i.e. trams to a new platform at Kirkham) myself. But with regard to if it's doubled to a half hourly heavy rail service, then yes, the logic would be one to Colne and one to Ormskirk rather than the present awkward "star" service. Might not even require an extra unit - would the spare that presently sits at Preston make it there and back in time?

 

[geoffk]

The rebuilt Kirkham has three platforms, with a new up platform (I'm assuming up is towards Preston) for both lines and the former down platform is just for South Fylde trains. Some track alterations required for trams obviously. There is through school traffic to Preston from some of the South Fylde line stations so through ticketing would be needed, and previous light rail proposals seem to have fallen down on this issue (e.g. Watford - St. Albans).

 

[CaptainBen]

I'm not sure how much use terminating at Kirkham would be. A sizeable portion of the traffic on the line is connected to other services at Preston, and adding a change at Kirkham is a retrograde step for that journey!

Tramway conversion in general seems a bit of a pipe-dream, really. You'd need electrification, which is challenging with the bridges on the route, and multiple passing loops to get a suitable frequency (trams realistically should be 4tph). And I'm far from convinced that Blackpool trams (which are suited to the low-speed, frequent stopping, and partial street-running of the existing route) are in any way suitable for a rural branch line, which has much longer distances between stations and ideally operates at rather higher speeds.

 

[Mollman]

The interesting thing with this proposal, is where are the trains going to go at Preston. Especially with the Fleetwood line proposal on the blocks too.

Manchester would probably be attractive to those on the route but that would require electrification or bi-modes.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Manchester would probably be attractive to those on the route but that would require electrification or bi-modes.

True, though that'd be another one through Castlefield I guess. Timing the connection at Kirkham (and having the branch train wait if necessary) might be better.

 

[Nymanic]

Manchester would probably be attractive to those on the route but that would require electrification or bi-modes.

Since there's already plenty of Manchester-Blackpool services it's doubtful...

... but if the 769s prove reliable and numerous enough, the Manchester Vic to Preston turns could perhaps be extended to Blackpool South?