June 2024 reopening of the line between Clitheroe and Hellifield for passenger trains

[wilbers]

If I wanted to do Sheffield-Ribblehead going one way via Leeds and back via Clitheroe, what ticket would work best? Any suggestions please?

If you happen to have (or obtain before you want to go) a free Northern-only ticket from a delay that is an option.

 

[MidsMike]

If I wanted to do Sheffield-Ribblehead going one way via Leeds and back via Clitheroe, what ticket would work best? Any suggestions please?

Last year the was the £10 Northern newspaper voucher offer going on around June time so keep an eye on that.

 

[JRT]

Last year the was the £10 Northern newspaper voucher offer going on around June time so keep an eye on that.

Halifax Courier was doing an offer last week £10 a day on NORTHERN (there's a weekend ticket). Not got details but it was last Friday's paper unfortunately

 

[Jamesrob637]

Last year the was the £10 Northern newspaper voucher offer going on around June time so keep an eye on that.

A tenner in the week, a little more on weekends. Good value though, and flexible (not Advance)

 

[Gaz67]

Noticed a Blackburn to Blackburn via Ribblehead turn this week [T,W,Th ] on RTT, cancelled T,W and looks like its not run today. Early days yet so nothing to get too concerned about.

 

[Geeves]

Route learning is happening now! 150106 today is providing the traction having detached from 2N92 at 0912 (at Blackburn), doing two trips to Ribblehead and back and reattaching to the 2K60 1420 back to Headbolt Lane for the rest of the day

Yesterday 150102 doing the same seen here taking the line back to Blackburn at Hellifield Jc, all credit to Mark Harvey for the photo.

 

[scouseyb123]

Route learning is happening now! 150106 today is providing the traction having detached from 2N92, doing two trips to Ribblehead and back and reattaching to the 2K60 1420 back to Headbolt Lane for the rest of the day

Yesterday 150102 doing the same seen here taking the line back to Blackburn, all credit to Mark Harvey

Whose depot’s drivers are doing it in the end? Heard there’s been pushback from Blackpool depot that they want it not Blackburn

 

[yorksrob]

These are welcome and exciting developments !

 

[nw1]

These are welcome and exciting developments !

Good to see, particularly as I'm sure I remember "can't be done" arguments a couple of years ago when such a scheme was suggested on here.

 

[yorksrob]

Good to see, particularly as I'm sure I remember "can't be done" arguments a couple of years ago when such a scheme was suggested on here.

Indeed, there always are !

 

[InkyScrolls]

Route learning is happening now! 150106 today is providing the traction having detached from 2N92 at 0912 (at Blackburn), doing two trips to Ribblehead and back and reattaching to the 2K60 1420 back to Headbolt Lane for the rest of the day

Yesterday 150102 doing the same seen here taking the line back to Blackburn at Hellifield Jc, all credit to Mark Harvey for the photo.

Really good to see!

 

[Gathursty]

Whose depot’s drivers are doing it in the end? Heard there’s been pushback from Blackpool depot that they want it not Blackburn

I'd hope Blackpool drivers concern themselves with what they already have and not a journey that is clearly on Blackburn's patch.

 

[Neptune]

I'd hope Blackpool drivers concern themselves with what they already have and not a journey that is clearly on Blackburn's patch.

Blackburn drivers and conductors are going to be working them.

Blackpool did sign as far as Hellifield in the past but that stopped when they lost 158 knowledge. They also don’t sign 156’s which are booked to work the new service.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Is the intention to use 150s? Shame if so, the window view is very poor.

 

[Neptune]

Is the intention to use 150s? Shame if so, the window view is very poor.

No it’s booked for 156’s. It doesn’t matter what traction is used for the training runs. 142’s were used for the Appleby to Carlisle crew training runs after the Eden Brows closure.

 

[Condor7]

Yes great news after such a long wait! Next they will need to open the bay platform.. Perhaps we should at the moment be grateful for small mercies.

 

[AMD]

They also don’t sign 156’s which are booked to work the new service.

It's just a detail, but yes Blackpool do sign 156s, otherwise a whole load of Ormskirks, B Souths, Colnes and Morecambes would be cancelled!

 

[Neptune]

It's just a detail, but yes Blackpool do sign 156s, otherwise a whole load of Ormskirks, B Souths, Colnes and Morecambes would be cancelled!

Of course sorry my mistake. Even so they aren’t signing Hellifield back in.

 

[Hugo3000]

Blackburn drivers and conductors are going to be working them.

Blackpool did sign as far as Hellifield in the past but that stopped when they lost 158 knowledge. They also don’t sign 156’s which are booked to work the new service.

Apparently, this is still very much up for debate...

 

[daodao]

There will now be an alternative way of travelling from Manchester and East Lancashire to Settle and Horton, courtesy of a new bus service (route 11) running 2-hourly Mon-Sat from Clitheroe Station (with rail connections). The new rail services are also publicised on the Dalesbus website.

Bus Timetable Changes - April 2024

There will be several changes to bus services in the Yorkshire Dales area from 8th April 2024 following retendering of services by North Yorkshire Council.
Service 11 between Horton-in-Ribblesdale, Settle and Tosside will be extended to run to/from Slaidburn and Clitheroe on Monday to Saturday with an increased timetable. It will be operated by 21 Transport in place of North Yorkshire Council.

Latest News

The bus station at Bradford Interchange is closed until further notice. From 14th April DalesBus 864 to Ilkley, Skipton and Malham will start from stop B1 on Bridge Street (opposite the...

www.dalesbus.org

 

[Neptune]

Apparently, this is still very much up for debate...

Well it’s in their diagrams for June so unless anything changes….

 

[Hugo3000]

I hope it stays in their diagrams but a certain depot is not backing down on not being given the new work!

 

[InkyScrolls]

I hope it stays in their diagrams but a certain depot is not backing down on not being given the new work!

I don't think it's really up to them though, is it? Especially given the diagrams have already been finalised!

 

[507020]

Is the intention to use 150s? Shame if so, the window view is very poor.

Unless 158s are drafted in to work from Clitheroe/Blackburn to Rochdale on Saturdays, presumably it will be the same mix of 150s and 156s that run that service. If passengers want to board a 158 instead, one will be available at Hellifield, but it will likely be much busier.

I don't think it's really up to them though, is it? Especially given the diagrams have already been finalised!

Given that Blackburn crews cannot take over the Blackpool North - York service, it would require some quite illogical diagramming for Blackpool crews to run only from Blackburn to Blea Moor UGL.

It looks like not even Wigan sign the route via Darwen.

 

[Hugo3000]

I don't think it's really up to them though, is it? Especially given the diagrams have already been finalised!

I agree, you'd think it wouldn't be up to them but it's still not 100% finalised - neither have the diagrams been agreed upon by all parties.

 

[td97]

How about Blackpool depot run all their presently timetabled services before taking on any extras. There were 8 cancelled Blackpool <-> Manchester Airport services today (4 round trips), including the penultimate and last northbound services.
Tomorrow (Saturday), when the Ribblehead service would run, Northern are showing at least 6 pre-cancelled round trips (12 total) due to shortage of traincrew on this route.
Meanwhile, there are no pre-cancellations on Blackburn core routes.

 

[Horseman]

How about Blackpool depot run all their presently timetabled services before taking on any extras. There were 8 cancelled Blackpool <-> Manchester Airport services today (4 round trips), including the penultimate and last northbound services.
Tomorrow (Saturday), when the Ribblehead service would run, Northern are showing at least 6 pre-cancelled round trips (12 total) due to shortage of traincrew on this route.
Meanwhile, there are no pre-cancellations on Blackburn core routes.

Yeah the Blackpool - Yorks have had their fair share of casualties as well...

 

[Neptune]

Unless 158s are drafted in to work from Clitheroe/Blackburn to Rochdale on Saturdays, presumably it will be the same mix of 150s and 156s that run that service. If passengers want to board a 158 instead, one will be available at Hellifield, but it will likely be much busier.

Did you not read my post below that one? They’re both booked to be 156’s.

 

[Ant158]

Did you not read my post below that one? They’re both booked to be 156’s.

Hopefully the booked class 156s will be used, though in practice the Clitheroe to Rochdale line sees any combination of 150 / 156 running most of the week. Just because a 156 is booked doesn't mean that's what will run the service.

On a positive note looking forward to using this new service. With the new bus service 11 too, it's good to see new travel options open up.

Hopefully in time the train service can be expanded further.

 

[Gathursty]

If there are Northern staff at Blackpool who do not like the routes they have, they should put in a request to move to other depots rather than demanding preferred routes be given to them. Local news might have a field day with this so they should be mindful how far to push this demand.