April 2007

Trains – Connecting – Places – Connecting – People – Connecting – Business

The Todmorden Triangle

Is the most prominent landmark of Todmorden, when viewed from the air.

The "Todmorden West Curve"
Should be rebuilt to enable a direct fast train service from Manchester via Rochdale and Todmorden to Burnley and East Lancashire. Only 400 yards of track is required and many of the required points are already in place.

This will bring great benefits
To the town of Todmorden

* Improved Service to Manchester
* Better business links with the East Lancashire towns bringing in return
* more visitors to Todmorden by rail.
* A reduction in vehicular traffic and
* therefore less pollution in Todmorden

This route from Manchester to Burnley is 5 miles shorter than via Blackburn, and it is all double track, more suitable for fast running, and it is not as congested as the line via Bolton and Salford Crescent.

Two Trains would be required initially for an hourly service in about 45 minutes using the Todmorden curve.
Increasing to 2 trains per hour at peak times and with growth in demand.
Beyond Burnley alternate trains could go to Blackburn Preston and Blackpool or Nelson Colne and eventually Skipton

MP Speaks Out

Speaking in the House of Commons in December, Burnley MP Kitty Ussher has urged the government to back better rail links between Burnley and Manchester, and reinstate a few metres of track known as
"The Todmorden curve"
Which would allow a direct train service between Burnley and Manchester using a bit of the Calder line.
Connectivity is crucial to our constituencies, join me in urging for better links into Manchester, where many jobs are currently available?

It is nonsense that there is no direct train from Manchester to my constituency

Greg Pope MP, Hyndburn - Links to Manchester, we could improve the rail link by restoring the Todmorden curve

Lord Greaves asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether they have made an assessment of the cost of reinstatement of the Todmorden railway curve, and the passing loop at Nelson, together with any other necessary changes.

Completing the T in Todmorden

(Skipton)
Brierfield Nelson Colne
Blackpool Preston Burnley Blackburn Accrington

www.irate.org/tod

Todmorden
Rochdale Manchester

Halifax Bradford Leeds
Brighouse Huddersfield
Barnsley Sheffield
Wakefield London

tod@irate.og.uk

Manchester to Burnley was a direct train service via Bury and Accrington.
In 1923 Tank engines regularly hauled trains of 10 bogie carriages from Salford to Burnley in 49 minutes.
After 85 years of "Modernisation", the advertised service takes 84 minutes.
But there is an hourly "Ghost train" via Hebden Bridge in 63-70 minutes.

So the route via Todmorden is already the quickest, and direct trains, via The Todmorden Triangle could run Manchester to Burnley in 43 minutes

Or the long way.
Upgrading of the Blackburn Line is not an Alternative; It would be very costly to upgrade the line around Salford Crescent for any additional trains via Bolton.
The Bolton to Blackburn route was downgraded to a single track and would take rather more than 400 yards of track and 3 points to improve it for higher speeds, frequency and reliability.

Indeed the Todmorden Triangle could be rebuilt for a very small fraction of the cost of a Blackburn line upgrade.

This does not mean that we do not support the very necessary improvements to this main line to Blackburn.

Stella@irate.org.uk

West Yorkshire Local Transport Plan includes the Re-opening of the Todmorden Curve to facilitate rail services between Todmorden and Burnley. – And also the re-instatement of a station at Portsmouth/Cornholme

Lancashire County Council Transport Plan includes the Restoration of the Todmorden West Curve to provide a link between East Lancashire / Burnley and Manchester ...

Todmorden Town Council
Coun Cheryl Stovin, told member\s: "They (Selrap) asked for our support, and we would be silly if we do not give it. "If more lines are reopened, it would give us a better chance for the line (from Burnley) to Todmorden to be reopened.

Passenger Focus Group
"There are some quick wins possible for passengers and I hope you sent Network Rail a copy for their planner working on the Lancashire and Cumbria RUS"

Cost Benefit Analysis
Cost – Minimal, about £ 0.5 M
Benefits – will give 2 M people a direct train service to Manchester, and benefit another 2 M people with less traffic in the M66 / A56 corridor in between.

Manchester Rochdale

at Todmorden

"We don’t know what is in there !"
It could be the ghost of the
Famous Todmorden Banker !
But there is miles of old track.
The sleepers have grown into trees.

Points at Stansfield Hall

The 3 points Already in place at Stansield Hall Jc – but not there at the Todmorden Station end.

Triangle Supports other Rail Schemes

SELRAP – to rebuild the line from Colne to Skipton – with through trains from Manchester via Todmorden. - www.selrap.org.uk/

SWOPLINK – another triangle at Burscough for direct trains to Southport from Ormskirk and Preston
. http://swoplink.org.uk/

ABC – Ardwick Beswick Curve in Manchester for through trains via Todmorden and Rochdale to Sport City and Manchester Piccadilly
www.irate.org.uk/abc.

Bradford Cross – City Link, to open up new travel opportunities within Bradford and across the local rail system.
And the Spen Valley and Otley lines
www.brug.org.uk.

Halifax Station improvements, and Elland re-opening (HADRAG)

 
The Flying Shuttle of the
Upper Calder Valley Renaissance

Triangle is Published by The Independent Railway and Transport Executive. (cj@irate.org.uk)
Printed by Stan Hall & Sundry

Crossing The Border – Links to -
East Lancashire

STELLA
Support the East Lancashire Line

Brierfield to Bloom

This Forgotten platform will bloom with flowers and re-open as Double Track
For more trains to Nelson and Colne

Roses at Burnley Rose Grove

There are indeed Roses at Rose Grove but this Bay Platform will bloom again
For Manchester to Colne Trains

The Blackpool – Leeds trains should call here as well to connect Nelson and Colne with Halifax Bradford and Leeds.

Station "Improvements" are progressing at Nelson and Colne

STELLA members continue to campaign for improvements to Trains, Services and Stations along the East Lancashire Line
Please replace the 142s with real trains.

SELRAP – a Grand Tour
This was no April Fool

The day out from Colne to Skipton was fully Booked with 300 passengers in a 4 coach Sprinter unit. The train had to travel via Blackburn and Settle Junction, some 59 miles compared with the 10 ½ mile route which needs restoring

The Mayor of Pendle at Colne

(Lancashire Telegraph)

The Mayor of Skipton

with SELRAP organiser

and a very good day was had by all

Let’s do it again

Completing the T in Todmorden

(Skipton)
Brierfield Nelson Colne
Blackpool Preston Burnley Blackburn Accrington

www.irate.org/tod

Todmorden
Rochdale Manchester

Halifax Bradford Leeds
Brighouse Huddersfield
Barnsley Sheffield
Wakefield London

tod@irate.og.uk

Todmorden Triangle Downloads

Triangle Newdletter - April 07

Todmorden Triangle Map

Manchester Burnley Timetable

Halifax Rail Action Group - Spring 07