Future of WCML Steam

I have Ralph and completely agree- my guess is that a 6-car Pendolino will offer a few extra seats, but 8-car would be better....

 

Surely the purpose of a direct train is to be faster ?
Euston via Manchester to Blackpool, it'll still be faster to change at Preston, unless they start reducing Scottish services stopping at Preston ?
Euston to Bolton will be nice though.

 

I wondered if they are proposing to run semi-fasts, and that's how they are going to add the extra stops for Nuneaton and MK? Could be interesting as LM were also to introduce some faster direct London services (rather than via Northampton).

 

OOI what's the future for Blackpool south ? Will this be electrified or closed even ?

This has to be one of the last former mainlines in the country not to have seen preserved steam, but how it's still even open interests me ?

 

Not always designed to be faster. Some people prefer not to have to change trains so a direct train is more appealing to that sector of the market even if not quite as quick.

 

Just a long siding currently isn't it ?, Im suprise South hasn't been looked at for some capacity developments, given it's proximity to Pleasure Beach, which is the ultimate destination for many going to Blackpool, and the South end of the Promenade as well, especially so as it appears North is losing a few platforms during Electrifcation works thus reducing spare capacity there.

 

Plenty of room for expanding the station at Blackpool South. There is a large car park at the side which always looks
empty every time I pass it. In the latest SR someone has suggested running 'top 'n tail' steam into Blackpool South on
Sundays from Kirkham.

 

Its the "Alice in Wonderland" definition that "words mean what I say they mean not what YOU think they mean"

Sadly, in this case, the train service to Blackpool has been defined as "direct" [i.e. no change] which some people re-interpret as being "faster". As noted by others it will probably be the case that the Blackpool service will be a Manchester service (via Crewe or Stoke ?) extended to provide Bolton and Blackpool stops (a franchise commitment) whilst also doubling the number of through Euston - Preston trains (another franchise commitment).
Given the First Group also operates services to Blackpool / Barrow / Edinburgh / Glasgow with its First TransPenine (FTP) franchise, it will be interesting to see how the FTP timetable will change to either complement or compete with the First West Coast timetable.
The new franchise will provide an interesting comparison with Virgin Trains and Virgin Cross Country operations which ran complementary services for a while.

 

Could'nt these comments be transferred to the correct thread please.....

 

I don't see any reason to think that things will be changed anytime soon, and they'd still need approval from the rail regulator - even the new services proposed in the bids were subject to ORR approval.

Chris

 

A bit of a late reply but I think platform capacity at New Street rather makes things difficult with anything longer than 6 vehicles - as then the full length of a platform is required as opposed to only the A or B end. That would be why the figure of 6 has been quoted.