Blackpool and Huddersfield rail links into London planned (BBC News 13/06/2014)

[whole diary]

[JayMac]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Two new high-speed rail links from the north of England to London have moved a step closer.

The Great North Western Railway Company (GNWR) said Network Rail had agreed to let them run direct trains from Blackpool and Huddersfield.

The firm said it will invest in eight new trains and create 200 jobs if the plans are approved by the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR^» (Office of Rail and Road formerly Office of Rail Regulation - about)) later this year.

If agreed, the first of the routes could be operating by 2017, GNWR said.

Network Rail confirmed it had agreed the sale of access rights to allow the company to use the West Coast Main Line.

GNWR plans to run six return trains a day between London and Blackpool, starting in 2017.

In June last year two Blackpool MPs^▸ (Member of Parliament) criticised Network Rail for refusing to allow Virgin Trains to run two trains a day into Blackpool from the capital.

'Very confident' of Euston link

The last direct service from Blackpool to London was withdrawn by Virgin Trains in 2003.

Under the plans, the Huddersfield service would also have six return trains a day, and would run via Manchester Victoria and then continue on to Leeds.

GNWR said it hoped this service would begin operating in 2018.

At the moment the company's agreement with Network Rail only guarantees they can run trains into Queen's Park station in London.

Managing director Ian Yeowart said getting access to Euston station depends on how many platforms are affected by the redevelopment ahead of the HS2^▸ (The next High Speed line(s)) project.

"We are very confident that Euston will be accessible for our services," he added.

GNWR is consulting other parts of the rail industry until July, when the plans will go to the ORR for final approval.

[eightf48544]

"Under the plans, the Huddersfield service would also have six return trains a day, and would run via Manchester Victoria and then continue on to Leeds."

Being interested in odd routings (shades of PSUL in another post) i wonder how this train will be routed. Subject to confirmation there are only two resonably direct ways  from the WCML^▸ (West Coast Main Line) to Manchester Vic, via Newton le Willows or Denton the latter would mean reversing in Manchester Vic for Huddersfield. Unless they are waitng for the new curve off the Oxford Road line which will give a link from Picadilly through platforms to Victoria.

PSUL Passenger Services over Unual Lines

Web site http://www.psul4all.free-online.co.uk/intro.htm

[brompton rail]

Comments elsewhere have suggested via Earlstown. This route will be electrified shortly whereas the Stockport - Denton - Stalybridge line May not be done for some time.

[eightf48544]

Brompton Rail that sounds about right as Manchester to Hudderfield is down for electrification but will that be by 2018?

Also noticed no mention of stock Diesel or electric!

[JayMac]

No mention of rolling stock in the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) article but Alliance Rail's (GNWR) plans are for some 'baby' Pendolini from Alstom.

From Great North Western Railway Company Limited's Track Access Contract with Network Rail:

5 Specified Equipment

Specified Equipment
5.1 In order to provide the Services specified in this Schedule 5 the Train Operator has:

(a) Firm Rights to operate the following railway vehicles:
Class 390 6 car set

and

(b) Contingent Rights to operate any railway vehicles registered with Network Rail^s rolling stock library, subject to obtaining any necessary route clearance for the route in question.

[Rhydgaled]

Brompton Rail that sounds about right as Manchester to Hudderfield Leeds is down for electrification but will that be by 2018?

Also noticed no mention of stock Diesel or electric!

Correction (I think). Although I believe Hull and Harrogate are both under investigation for pontential electrification, I don't think either has been committed yet. Interesting if GNWR are planning to use 390s to Harrogate and First Hull Trains EMUs^▸ (Electric Multiple Unit) to Hull.

I think however that GNER^▸ (Great North Eastern Railways) (also Alliance Rail) propose using a mixture of 390s and bi-mode IEPs^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project.), so maybe GNWR are also planning a mixed fleet, not just 390s. Are GNER's proposals still under consideration or have they been accepted/rejected?

[old original]

"Managing director Ian Yeowart...."

Same gent who set up Grand Central

[eightf48544]

Looks like we are still going to be short of stock in 2020.

If electrification programme and the IEPs^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project.) are a success then where will the stock come from for these services?

Also if Alliance Rail want to use Pendelinos will they equip Earlstown Leeds with tilting balises.

[onthecushions]

If electrification programme and the IEPs^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project.) are a success then where will the stock come from for these services?

Germany, Japan or perhaps Italy?

OTC

[eightf48544]

Or surplus 313s!!!!!

[onthecushions]

Or surplus 313s!!!!!

Not sure that I would want to do a three hour trip in one but if we really are short of stock then 1970's sliding door stock should really be life-extended. Looking at the categories there were (approx);
 313: 64  units, 314: 16 units, 315: 61 units, plus (dc) 507: 33 units and 508: 43 units.

Even on non-wired routes, a single voyager car could haul them quite happily.

Better than a pacer.

OTC

[IndustryInsider]

Blackpool services, using 'Baby' Pendolino's now (finally) approved.  I admire Ian Yeowart's persistence!  Still a major sticking point as to whether they'll be able to get to Euston or have to terminate at Queen's Park which is 3.5 miles out of Euston and a kilometre away from Ladbroke Grove.  That's hardly an elegant or particularly useful station to terminate at and I presume it's been chosen because it's the closest station to Euston that has platforms on the relief lines and there's a goods loop the stock could run round in?  Let's hope the access to Euston can be agreed!

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/aug/07/virgin-has-a-rival-gnwr-london-blackpool-west-coast-rail-service

[SandTEngineer]

.....ahem. On the WCML^▸ (West Coast Main Line) they are the SLOW LINES 

[onthecushions]

There's always Kensington Olympia and a bit further on Waterloo Int., if Euston really is closed to newbies.

As it is they'd need dual voltage stock - ex-Eurostars perhaps.

Smart way to see the illuminations, or summer wine country.

OTC

[eightf48544]

When does Blackpool North get electrified?