Workington bridge collapses - temporary station

[Kevo00]

Network Rail have decided to do something very charitable that has given the railway some good PR for once, by very quickly building a temporary station on the north side of Workington, which has been split in half by the River Derwent after water washed one road bridge away and the other was declared unsafe. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8377599.stm

My only worry would be that the railway could then end up generating worse publicity for itself if a suitably low fare is not set for those wishing to simply cross the river.

[61653]

I'd like to think they'd set the fare pretty low, but I agree, I can imagine them setting the fare at something like £3, it really ought to be free, or just a nominal amount like 50p or something. Maybe them building a temporary platform at such short notice will give them a few ideas about how to do cheaper new stations or platform extensions...

[Ameecher]

As has been discussed on WNXX the possibility of enforcing the fare is likely to be slim as the guard won't be able to get round everyone in the short journey and I can't see Northern stationing someone at the new station and the queues at Workington station could be quite excessive.

[orudge]

If only other civil engineering projects could be completed at the rate of this station!

[61653]

If only other civil engineering projects could be completed at the rate of this station!

That's what i was thinking with my comment on future re-openings/platform extensions: If they find this (admittedly crude and temporary) station is cheaper than the estimated £3m cost of reopening Elland station, maybe they can adapt the techniques used to bring the cost down on permanent stations. Will 'Workington North' be any more crude than stations like Deighton or Berrylands, which have services passing at 90mph and 75mph(slow lines) respectively?

[Kevo00]

According to this report, it will be very basic indeed, probably just made out of scaffolding, although presumably it will meet safety standards. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8378702.stm

It would be good if they could use this experience to design a 'portastation' for future use, which could be erected for other special events, or happenings.

[John]

It would be good if they could use this experience to design a 'portastation' for future use, which could be erected for other special events, or happenings.

Can I point out you can get portable multi-story car parks that can be erected in just 2-3 days!

See: http://www.anotherlevelcarparks.co.uk/


It's amazing what can be achieved if there is a market...

[Born Acorn]

It wouldn't be the first. Some abandoned lines of the Underground (above ground sections, of course) have scaffold platforms and stations.

It would be good if they could use this experience to design a 'portastation' for future use, which could be erected for other special events, or happenings.

Can I point out you can get portable multi-story car parks that can be erected in just 2-3 days!

See: http://www.anotherlevelcarparks.co.uk/


It's amazing what can be achieved if there is a market...

I think I got lost in one of those in a Tesco in Merthyr Tydfil because they wouldn't signpost the petrol station very well. Turned out there wasn't one there.

[RedDragon]

Just watched a clip on the BBC this morning and the "workington special" it looks like a 47 and slam shut carrages (mrk2?)

Im not very good at identifying 70s - 80s stock but I would of thought they'd have a DMU somewhere (Its probs cheeper too).

Anythoughts?

[Ameecher]

It's DRS locos (class 37 and 47, top and tailing) with 3 DRS mk3s and a WCRC mk2 brake (in InterCity livery).
As for there being a spare MU about, if that were the case there wouldn't be loco-hauled diagrams on the Fife Circle and with First Great Western. To put it simply there ain't no trains.

[Kevo00]

Have to say I'm surprised that a whole extra train is running to give an hourly free service just between Maryport and Workington, it won't be too cheap. Plus all those locals won't be able to get on for all the enthusiasts who came for ride on a mk3 behind a 37 or 47.

But as noted above, its good that a free service has been arranged so it doesn't backfire on the railways. A good news story about rail for a change.

[noofnoof]

A good news story about rail for a change.

and they all lived happily ever after, the end?

[JamieLei]

Video here for those who haven't seen it
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8386621.stm

It's a 47 on hire from DRS

PDF timetable here aswell:
http://www.northernrail.org/pdfs/workin ... 301109.pdf

[audigex]

This was certainly needed - I was on one the regular services last week through the area, and a 153 certainly wasn't cutting it.

The line's normally run with 1-2hourly 156s and 153s which are normally pretty packed along that stretch anyway - they just didn't have the capacity for all the extra passengers.

I was stumped for a minute as to why it was running as far as Maryport - until I realised that it's the first place the two tracks meet north of Workington. It's fortunate that Maryport has such a strange layout (single bi-directional platform), otherwise they'd have to run the shuttle right up to Carlisle.

[Ameecher]

Which they can't do without special dispensation. Locomotives are banned north of Maryport.

[Kevo00]

Always meant to get round to taking a train down the Cumbrian Coast line, better do it incase the axe falls at sometime in the future.

[audigex]

Don't rush just yet - there's no way they can close it before sellafield shuts down or at least scales back dramatically. Too many of the workers use the coast to get to work and home again.

It's a nice little line, very scenic most of the way through. Takes bloody ages though considering the distance, I've heard more than one local opine that it stops at "Every third house."

[Dave]

Don't rush just yet - there's no way they can close it before sellafield shuts down or at least scales back dramatically. Too many of the workers use the coast to get to work and home again.

It's a nice little line, very scenic most of the way through. Takes bloody ages though considering the distance, I've heard more than one local opine that it stops at "Every third house."

For reference, 1S34 0557 CRE-GLC takes 1hr 10min between Preston (d 0640) and Carlisle (a 0750).

2C35 0522 PRE-CAR takes FOUR HOURS (Carlisle a 0923), for little extra mileage.

[Kevo00]

4 hours? Strewth. Thought most trains would probably do Barrow to Carlisle though, as the old Furness Railway mainline from Carnforth is surely mostly a TPE operation? Might be a good 'round robin' excursion though, with a day at the Lal' Ratty, which I've also never been on...maybe a good staycation for next year, following my Scottish one this year.

[Dave]

4 hours? Strewth. Thought most trains would probably do Barrow to Carlisle though, as the old Furness Railway mainline from Carnforth is surely mostly a TPE operation? Might be a good 'round robin' excursion though, with a day at the Lal' Ratty, which I've also never been on...maybe a good staycation for next year, following my Scottish one this year.

Carnforth-Barrow is almost exclusively operated by TPE, with a few exceptions (such as the above).

Barrow-Carlisle is Northern.