Preston Trams... still on-track?

When Tram Power's planning application for the Deepdale branch and the site of the former Deepdale Coal Concentration Depot, was rejected by Preston CC last year, understandably most people thought that would be the end of the road. Not so, it seems.

The team behind the planned "Guild Line", have prepared new reports to address the two remaining issues which were cited as the reasons for the rejection in July. They now plan to re-apply for planning permission by the end of February. Below is a copy of a letter being circulated to Councillors ahead of the application.

Dear Councillor,

The Trampower team met last week to review progress and discuss our fresh application for phase 1 of the Guild Line.

To try and overcome the objections to our previous application we attended a pre application meeting with LCC and PCC back in July 2015. We have since tabled an amended noise report and modifications to our crossing at Deepdale Mill St to try and allay the safety concerns of LCC. To date despite several enquiries we have failed to get any feedback from this meeting that cost us £400.

In view of this and the short time frame available for our re-application, (we must re apply within twelve months of the refusal) we intend to resubmit our application for this pulpit tramway by the end of February with a revised noise report and in the absence of a response from LCC, a crossing for Deepdale Mill St that complies with national guidelines and meets the approval of the railway inspector.

To address the safety objections of LCC we will have special arrangements in place whilst testing and training are in progress until local residents become used to the tram system.

Wishing you all a happy New Year and hoping that this year will see us able to start to deliver our vision for Preston.

Happy New Year.!

All the best for 2016..!

Keep those photos coming for Photo of the Day...

Merry Christmas!

I hope everyone had a great Christmas. Here's to a relaxing break (for those of us that get them) and a brilliant New Year...

Adrian

Christmas Gift Ideas !

Have you got a Preston Railway enthusiast in your family? Stuck for something to get them for Christmas?

Perhaps David Hindle's latest book (see review below) is just the ticket? It's available at bookshops around Preston as well as on-line at Amazon.

There are also a number of other books and DVDs shown in the top-centre panel of this page.

Preston - Planes, Trains, Tramcars and Ships

The latest title from prolific local writer David Hindle, should be of interest to many of the readers of this page.

The new book covers all modes of transport which have played a part in the development of Preston, including the railways, but also focussing on our rich heritage in aviation, trams, motor vehicles and waterways. There are a substantial number of photographs to illustrate the text throughout, making it a suitable book to dip in and out of. Photographic highlights include the Deltic Prototype at the Dick Kerr Works, the production line for the Bond Minicar, a line-up of Canberra, Lightening and TSR-2, plus a good number of top-class railway images from the likes of Peter Fitton.

The book is out now and available from local shops and from Amazon.

Alan Castle

It is with great sadness that I have to report that Alan Castle passed away last night.

Alan was a dedicated and skilled photographer and journalist, with countless magazine articles and books to his name. He was a regular contributor to this website (particularly his article on the West Lancs Railway) and I have had the pleasure of working with him for several years on the Lostock Hall MPD website and Lensmen forum.

An ever-present figure at the lineside across the North West of England and beyond, he will be greatly missed.

Our thoughts are with the family he leaves behind.

WCRC Suspension lifted

The suspension of West Coast Railway Co's Track Access Agreement, by Network Rail, has been lifted as of midnight last night. It seems that WCRC have managed to satisfy NR's demands and will begin a "phased" reintroduction of services.
Immediately following the reinstatement, the Carnforth company made arrangements to get Stock and locos to Scotland for the Jacobite services, which were due to start this coming Monday.
It seems that WCRC have gone further than the NR stipulations, appointing of additional directors to oversee the safety aspects of the firm, presumably designed to demonstrate a commitment to correcting the shortcomings which led to the suspension.
None of this means that WCRC are yet "out of the woods", since the ORR are still considering the revocation of their licence, but we may get some news on that on 15th May, when the consultation with other TOCs will have ended.