Tangerinemoss
Well-known member
Has Grant Shapps really just said they are going to build the railway to Fleetwood
Yes that was my understandingHas Grant Shapps really just said they are going to build the railway to Fleetwood
66, thanks for your analysis. This was one of the reasons I started the thread, I was aware of the possibility of putting a light rail/tram onto the old line, although I understand that some bits of it have been built on (I used to live about 50 yards from it in Thornton and remember when it was a real railway). I am surprised that, in our current financial state, something that may be a good idea but probably is not sustainable, would be top of the UK announcements.
Your knowledge and that of Tangerine Moss is way beyond mine but, parochially, whilst his would be an excellent move that makes obvious local sense - it would also be very expensive. Infrastructure don't come cheap and for every Fylde rail system there are bound to be others in all points of Britain where Breeching laid waste.It's not built on at all up to the point where the old track bed meets the new road. I don't think it would be a massive challenge to run a new track bed alongside the road. The Jameson road bridge was filled in. That's the only obstruction up to the point it meets with the Amounderness Way, just after Cala Gran.
Your knowledge and that of Tangerine miss is way beyond mine but, parochially, whilst his would be an excellent move that makes obvious local sense - it would also be very expensive. Infrastructure don't come cheap and for every Fylde rail system there are bound to be others in all points of Britain where Breeching laid waste.
Couldn't it be connected to the tram tracks on the outskirts and a station built near the North Euston?I think it would be one of the cheapest potential reopenings as the line is clear, the track may need upgrading, but is in situ for most part and it would need a big signalling upgrade I'd guess and a new level crossing in Thornton but for light rail especially, I don't think it's *that* far off usable, in comparison to the majority of the lines cut by Breeching where they're built upon or have been lifted then completely unmaintained for 50 years.
You'd have to work out how to get up to Wyre Dock though, given the dock entrance road is now also the entrance for the big housing estate IRC. (or is that wrong, I can't remember!)
Couldn't it be connected to the tram tracks on the outskirts and a station built near the North Euston?
*Note - not a railway design expert.*
Couldn't it be connected to the tram tracks on the outskirts and a station built near the North Euston?
*Note - not a railway design expert.*
Quite.Actually, I see what you mean - I suppose the problem would be you'd have to go over Amounderness Way to get to tram line via outskirts
I was thinking about the residents. Plus, if Fleetwood became easily accessible that way, why not other Fylde residents going up there for the market, and pubs?Although I would like to see Fleetwood prosper I cannot see the rail link will help much. In the old days the railway was a connection to ICI and the docks - both of which have gone. That leaves tourists and I can't see vast numbers using the rail link.
It was announced by Grant Shapps during todays daily briefing but he probably didn’t mean it, a bit like last Sundays briefing when the minister front man announced that 30 million vaccines would be available by end September!Anyone got any links to this please?
It was just what Grant Shapps said at the press conference today. He was saying they were going to invest in undoing Beeching, and Fleetwood was one of two places he mentionedAnyone got any links to this please?
Thanks guys. Nonsense then.It was just what Grant Shapps said at the press conference today. He was saying they were going to invest in undoing Beeching, and Fleetwood was one of two places he mentioned
Quick, we need something to distract the media from Dominic Cummings.Has Grant Shapps really just said they are going to build the railway to Fleetwood
The junction was severed (points removed) when the line to Blackpool was electrified. I could see the tramway being extended from fleetwood to Poulton using the line on the right into a seperate platform at Poulton where the station car park now is.Off the wiki entry for the Fleetwood railway
Current situation[edit]
Poulton-le-Fylde Junction, where the disused line joins the main line to Blackpool (pictured in 2008)
Some of the track is now clear of being overgrown as the northern track was never lifted up past Burn Naze Halt to just beyond Jameson Road Fleetwood although the road bridge was filled in below it. On this stretch the junction is still there where goods trains used to take coal to Fleetwood Power Station. If you look over the road bridge on Jameson Road you can still see the track (to both north & south) through the undergrowth.[4] In the 1990s, the new A585 Amounderness Way bypass was built on the former trackbed, though sufficient space still exists for a reinstated railway should it be required.
Somehow I doubt that mentioning some poxy little branch line that the majority of the country doesn't know exists, would be used to distract the media. They'd used something far more newsworthy.Quick, we need something to distract the media from Dominic Cummings.
I know, we'll mention reopening the Poulton to Fleetwood line.
That'll do it. Dominic, you can come out again.
So do I. But I wouldn't put it past any politician to try and distract the media by whatever means. What did they used to call it? A good day to bury bad news?I think Wizaard was being sarcastic !
The point I was trying to make is that by linking Fleetwood with Poulton, using the old line where possible, a tram network could be extended through to the whole of the Fylde coast. Fleetwood would still only have one main terminus, with trams running to Blackpool in one direction (then hopefully on to Lytham), and to Poulton in the other direction. Of course, Fleetwood residents could then choose to access mainline trains at either Blackpool or Poulton-le-Fylde but remember that not all mainline trains stop at Poulton.As much I would love a train line coming into my home town i just don’t think it’s viable on a financial side and also numbers who would use it to make it worthwhile. With the tram link to Blackpool North it would mean the town having two very modern links to the mainline and it just seems excessive for a town like Fleetwood.
Track is still there for much of the route. A heritage society has been keeping the trackbed clear.Jack, I presume that although the bed is still there, it would all need to be dug out and start again ?
Track is still there for much of the route. A heritage society has been keeping the trackbed clear.
Yes. I'm curious to see where this leaves the Poulton and Wyre railway society. Reopening the line publicly leaves them with nowhere to go really.A mass transit system needs to conform to stringent quality standards.. The old track down there, is knackered in the most part ( i used to maintain it in the 80's). It would need complete renewal and new formation, drainage, power, signalling etc..
The 5mill / km I mentioned was a tram extension on an corridor..
If it was a heritage railway, then you can get away with just upgrading and reducing speed etc, but as soon as you call it a mass transit system you need to conform to alssorts of regulation.
Thats why the Blackpool trams, tracks and overhead power had to be updated a few years ago to conform, That cost 100million.
Thanks for that, that's what I suspectedA mass transit system needs to conform to stringent quality standards.. The old track down there, is knackered in the most part ( i used to maintain it in the 80's). It would need complete renewal and new formation, drainage, power, signalling etc..
The 5mill / km I mentioned was a tram extension on an corridor..
If it was a heritage railway, then you can get away with just upgrading and reducing speed etc, but as soon as you call it a mass transit system you need to conform to alssorts of regulation.
Thats why the Blackpool trams, tracks and overhead power had to be updated a few years ago to conform, That cost 100million.
A lot would depend if its done properly with passing places etc, or end up as a 15 mile extended siding like the South Fylde line.They are looking at openeing some of Beechings lines, but they will be based on expected passenger numbers and, i presume, possible revenue..
Not sure fleetwood would qualify but I may be wrong
That's a possibility. Isn't that what the Oxenholme to Windermere line does? Saves on signalling.Presumably would stop in thornton etc on way through?, but a single line could only operate one train/tram ....so would it just be one vehicle going to and fro?