As had been widely speculated, First Group has been selected to take over the West Coast Main Line franchise instead of Virgin.
First Group's bid was substantially higher than that from incumbent, resulting in higher payments back to the Treasury. However, industry insiders and Virgin themselves have voiced fears that the bid is unsustainable. In a statement, Virgin boss Richard Branson said "We did not want to risk letting everybody down with almost certain bankruptcy at some time during the franchise, as happened to GNER and National Express who overbid on the East Coast mainline,"
Other than worries over First Group's ability to deliver on their promise, the concern is that there will have to be a substantial lowering of service standards and heavy job-losses. This news comes on the back of yesterday's announcement that rail fares in general will rise by over 6% early in 2013.
Perhaps in a bid to sweeten the pill, today's announcement includes news of the intention to add to the existing services, with direct trains to London from Blackpool and Bolton, and a strengthening of the service between London and Preston.
Wednesday, 15 August 2012
Friday, 10 August 2012
Prototype DELTIC extended stay.
Originally planned as just a short stay for the Guild, it now looks like DELTIC will remain at the Ribble Steam Railway for much longer. With the NRM needing to find space for six LNER A4s, including two being repatriated from North America, they will be more than happy for groups like the RSR to borrow an exhibit or two.
At present, it looks like the Preston-built DELTIC will remain in the city for as long as a year. Hopefully, this will allow for some imaginative photo-opportunities, as long as the NRM don't insist on it remaining in the museum building throughout its stay.
Click on the Photo of the Day link (above) for photos of DELTIC's journey back to Preston.
Interesting DELTIC fact : One of the first test-runs of the Deltic prototype was from Preston to Grimsargh, on the old Longridge Branch. It reportedly travelled up the branch under cover of darkness and remained in the sidings at Grimsargh over-night. No photos of this have come to light (unless you know better!)
At present, it looks like the Preston-built DELTIC will remain in the city for as long as a year. Hopefully, this will allow for some imaginative photo-opportunities, as long as the NRM don't insist on it remaining in the museum building throughout its stay.
Click on the Photo of the Day link (above) for photos of DELTIC's journey back to Preston.
Interesting DELTIC fact : One of the first test-runs of the Deltic prototype was from Preston to Grimsargh, on the old Longridge Branch. It reportedly travelled up the branch under cover of darkness and remained in the sidings at Grimsargh over-night. No photos of this have come to light (unless you know better!)
Thursday, 9 August 2012
DELTIC en-route
The DELTIC prototype, built at the Dick Kerr works in Preston, is on its way back to its birthplace... The unique EE machine will reach the Ribble Steam Railway this afternoon, travelling by road from the NRM's Shildon outpost.
See the Photo of the Day gallery for a shot of the locomotive at Tebay.
See the Photo of the Day gallery for a shot of the locomotive at Tebay.
Friday, 3 August 2012
Reunion Specials at RSR
The Ribble Steam Railway (RSR) is to hold a 'Guild Reunion' event over the weekend of 4th & 5th August, featuring the first visit preservation-era visit of a London Midland region locomotive to the dockside line.
With 2012 Guild year once again, the RSR hopes to reunite a number of old faces from the twilight of the steam era in Preston.
Star of the show will be 'Jinty' No. 47472, which was the Preston station pilot for the bulk of the 1950s and 1960s. This locomotive seemed to be a permanent fixture in the busy station environs, and was thus dubbed 'City of Preston' by a generation of spotters. With the original locomotive sadly having been scrapped in 1967, classmate No. 47406 will be specially renumbered and provided with an appropriate 10B (Preston) shedplate for one weekend only.
Double book-launch - ‘The London & North Western Railway around Preston’ Bob Gregson's companion to the sell-out ‘The Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway around Preston’. ‘The Railways of Preston – Half a Century of Change’ from RSR volunteer Andy Fowler. Both Authors will be on-hand.
More info : www.ribblesteam.org.uk/
A photo charter featuring No. 47472 is also planned to take place during the locomotive’s stay in Preston. This is being organised by 30742 Charters, and full details can be obtained by e-mailing Mail.30742@btinternet.com.
The cost of the full-day photo-charter event will be £35.
More info : www.ribblesteam.org.uk/
With 2012 Guild year once again, the RSR hopes to reunite a number of old faces from the twilight of the steam era in Preston.
Star of the show will be 'Jinty' No. 47472, which was the Preston station pilot for the bulk of the 1950s and 1960s. This locomotive seemed to be a permanent fixture in the busy station environs, and was thus dubbed 'City of Preston' by a generation of spotters. With the original locomotive sadly having been scrapped in 1967, classmate No. 47406 will be specially renumbered and provided with an appropriate 10B (Preston) shedplate for one weekend only.
Double book-launch - ‘The London & North Western Railway around Preston’ Bob Gregson's companion to the sell-out ‘The Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway around Preston’. ‘The Railways of Preston – Half a Century of Change’ from RSR volunteer Andy Fowler. Both Authors will be on-hand.
More info : www.ribblesteam.org.uk/
A photo charter featuring No. 47472 is also planned to take place during the locomotive’s stay in Preston. This is being organised by 30742 Charters, and full details can be obtained by e-mailing Mail.30742@btinternet.com.
The cost of the full-day photo-charter event will be £35.
More info : www.ribblesteam.org.uk/
Thursday, 19 July 2012
The Railways of Preston - Half a Century of Change - OUT NOW!
Andrew Fowler's superb new book is now available. Timed to coincide with the 2012 Guild, the book takes a nostalgic look back at the railways of Preston, covering the 50 years up to the beginning of the new millennium.
There's something for everyone, from the golden age of steam through the transition years and into the diesel /electric era. The book is packed with colour images charting the history of our favourite station and the railways which radiate from it.
The book can be bought on-line now and will be on the shelves in all good bookshops over the next couple of days...
There's something for everyone, from the golden age of steam through the transition years and into the diesel /electric era. The book is packed with colour images charting the history of our favourite station and the railways which radiate from it.
The book can be bought on-line now and will be on the shelves in all good bookshops over the next couple of days...
Monday, 16 July 2012
The Train now standing at Platform Zero...
From Wednesday, a special shuttle service for the Open Golf will run between Preston and Ansdell & Fairhaven. The service runs at half-hourly intervals from the RES platform - the pre-1972 platform 2.
The last time the RES platform was used for passenger services was during a closure on the East side of the station, when Preston gained a Platform Zero for a short while. Since the old footbridge is long-gone, the only access is via the subway from the main station.
The last time the RES platform was used for passenger services was during a closure on the East side of the station, when Preston gained a Platform Zero for a short while. Since the old footbridge is long-gone, the only access is via the subway from the main station.
Thursday, 5 July 2012
Steam Spectacular - Diesel Doldrums
The first Fellsman of the season kicked-off the regular steam season for 2012 yesterday. The Fellsman is now an established feature of the railtour calendar, and is all but sold out every Wednesday through to August.
This year though, the Fellsman isn't the only regular steam at Preston, with The Cumbrian Mountain Express and Welsh Mountaineer trains running in regular slots on Saturdays and Tuesdays respectively. Add to that the new kid on the block, The Mersey Moorlander Express, and we have the prospect of weeks like the following, with steam on Saturday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday!
Saturday, August 11 [STEAM] The Cumbrian Mountain Express - via Manchester
Monday, August 13 [STEAM / DIESEL] The Mersey Moorlander
Tuesday, August 14 [STEAM] The Welsh Mountaineer (Preston - Blaenau Ffestiniog
Wednesday, August 15 [STEAM] The Fellsman
All great for the steam-fans, but preserved diesel tours are again looking less than exciting, still with no class 40 or Western available and even 55022 currently on only one engine. All the more reason to take advantage of this weekend's class 20 tour.
This year though, the Fellsman isn't the only regular steam at Preston, with The Cumbrian Mountain Express and Welsh Mountaineer trains running in regular slots on Saturdays and Tuesdays respectively. Add to that the new kid on the block, The Mersey Moorlander Express, and we have the prospect of weeks like the following, with steam on Saturday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday!
Saturday, August 11 [STEAM] The Cumbrian Mountain Express - via Manchester
Monday, August 13 [STEAM / DIESEL] The Mersey Moorlander
Tuesday, August 14 [STEAM] The Welsh Mountaineer (Preston - Blaenau Ffestiniog
Wednesday, August 15 [STEAM] The Fellsman
All great for the steam-fans, but preserved diesel tours are again looking less than exciting, still with no class 40 or Western available and even 55022 currently on only one engine. All the more reason to take advantage of this weekend's class 20 tour.
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