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Loco hauled services operated by WCRC on the Windermere branch

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87015

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WCRC operating Windermere branch from this afternoon. Test trips cancelled and running as passenger due to a lack of buses provided.
 
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driver9000

driver9000

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Back to buses now. Only 1 trip ran as a passenger train from Windermere which is believed to be the Tim Farron pressex which arrived 34 minutes early at Oxenholme Next working showing is ECS Oxenholme to Carnforth at 15:25.

Tim Farron MP states they could run from tomorrow but it's subject to DfT approval.
 
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Well, they said 2 weeks... and it covers the busy part of the day for tourists (and for road traffic?), so not a bad temporary fix IMO.
 
underbank

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Maybe a stupid question, but how have WCRC found drivers who sign the Windermere branch so easily/quickly? Will these be Northern drivers who usually drive the route operating it on their days off?
 
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amywok

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West Coast to run Oxenholme - Windermere shuttle from tomorrow. First from Ox at 09.25 and last arrival 19.00. Stock not known but RTT Shows Diesel loco and service SSUX.
 
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amywok said:
West Coast to run Oxenholme - Windermere shuttle from tomorrow. First from Ox at 09.25 and last arrival 19.00. Stock not known but RTT Shows Diesel loco and service SSUX.
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Not a bad idea as it happens
 
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Bertie the bus

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amywok said:
West Coast to run Oxenholme - Windermere shuttle from tomorrow. First from Ox at 09.25 and last arrival 19.00. Stock not known but RTT Shows Diesel loco and service SSUX.
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Is that confirmed or just based on paths in RTT? I would have expected Tim Farron to have tweeted it if it was definitely happening.

Regardless of what happens he's played an absolute blinder today - embarrasing Northern (though they are more than capable of doing that themselves), TfN and Grayling.
 
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Bertie the bus said:
Is that confirmed or just based on paths in RTT? I would have expected Tim Farron to have tweeted it if it was definitely happening.

Regardless of what happens he's played an absolute blinder today - embarrasing Northern (though they are more than capable of doing that themselves), TfN and Grayling.
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Judging by the high volume of passengers at Victoria today, clearly no one is paying attention to what political points are being made.
 
driver9000

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underbank said:
Maybe a stupid question, but how have WCRC found drivers who sign the Windermere branch so easily/quickly? Will these be Northern drivers who usually drive the route operating it on their days off?
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Northern not having crew trained up is part of the problem. The crews working the branch don't sign locomotives.
 
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absolutelymilk

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Farron tweeted a few hours ago that trains would run from tomorrow if the government gave permission.
 
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6Gman

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Is there still a traincrew depot at Carnforth? They were always very obliging.
 
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rg177 said:
Well, I guess a trip to Windermere tomorrow calls to see how this pans out.
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Poor old Tim Farron is in for a shock when his bright idea simply results in droves of bashers riding up and down to accumulate miles of Class 37 haulage!

:D
 
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6Gman said:
Poor old Tim Farron is in for a shock when his bright idea simply results in droves of bashers riding up and down to accumulate miles of Class 37 haulage!

:D
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As long as the bashers go on a boat trip and buy an Ice cream, he'll be very happy that tourists are returning.
 
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Bovverboy

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Bovverboy said:
Are you sure those journeys are in public service, and not solely crew training trips? Still, even if they're crew-training trips, NR have obviously authorised WCRC to run them , so things are definitely getting serious.

Watch this space - I certainly will be doing!
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EDIT (21:16): If they were intended as purely crew-training trips they would be class '5' workings, as it is they are class '2'. So someone is certainly hopeful that they'll be public.

(Sorry, I clicked 'Reply' when I should have clicked 'Edit').
 
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alexl92

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Looks like WCR are about to step in and operate a LHCS service to Windermere for Northern, after a trial run today...
http://www.railwayherald.co.uk/uknews/wcr-to-provide-timetabled-service-on-lakes-line

'After a significant amount of negative publicity over the total suspension of Northern-operated passenger services on the Winderemere branch, it appears that a solution has been found.

On 17th June, West Coast Railway Company operated three return ECS trips as a trail over the branch, using Class 37/5 No. 37669 and Class 57/3 No. 57316, in 'top and tail' formation around a three-coach rake. The move is understood to have been a preamble to a daily service operating while trains are suspended by the franchise TOC.

The run is reported to have been successful with much interest being generated locally and from enthusiasts and Railway Herald understands that a public service, comprising of six round trips between Oxenholme and Windermere, between 09:30 and 19:00, is to commence from Monday 18th June.

Departures from Oxenholme are at 09:25, 10:40, 12:40, 14:40, 16:35 and 17:50, returning from Windermere at 10:00, 11:30, 13:30, 15:30, 17:10 and 18:30, the stock operating ECS from and to Carnforth every morning/evening. How long the service will operate for in a 'top and tail' loco-hauled formation is unknown, although the schedules currently exist in the system through to 22nd June.

It is understood that the service is being operated by WCR following an approach by Northern, but it is also not known how ticketing will work, although with the franchised TOC involved, it is through that normal tickets will be valid. Confirmation is however awaited. The advertised rail replacement bus service is expected to continue to operate alongside the rail service'
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Railway journalists on Twitter are reporting that the DfT haven't actually signed this off yet and didn't authorise... so it looks like WCR have been approached by Northern to help out and have run a trial today as a demo without a contract or anything.

... ... ...

Out of interest, how much does it cost to operate a service like this? Not to make a profit - just what are the operating costs for 2 locos, 3 coaches, crews and track access charges + whatever other costs they incur?
 
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Mugby

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Wouldn't the track access charges be already covered?

Would it make any difference that the train is loco and coaches rather than a unit?
 
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