Our troubled friends in and around Workington ….
I’ve been reading some very sad stories about Cumbria. The only bridge connection left between the north and south of Workington is the railway’s and now I’m reading lots of criticism about Northern refusing to strengthen their trains by more than one carriage.
It’s understandable for people to shout, especially in these very distressing circumstances.
Here’s a press release from Network Rail.
And meanwhile, we might like to consider the following re Northern strengthening trains.
Northern are desperately short of units – currently they have a 323 being rebuilt following the collision with a road vehicle at North Rode near Congleton last December expected back “next Spring”, 2 x 142s on long-term sick (042 – the Olive Mount “pogo-stick” victim and probably a write off and 016 from the Darlington collision a month or so ago) and some 156s out with serious underframe corrosion damage. Meanwhile, commuters in North Manchester and in the Aire Valley are left standing on platforms because they can’t physically get on trains. Should Northern be leaving even more people standing on stations in North Manchester and Leeds and transfer units to Cumbria? It’s time for the Department for Transport (DfT) to step in and get Northern some more units. There must be some elsewhere in Britain.
So, DfT, we’re waiting ….
Meanwhile, let’s hope the rain slows soon.
3 comments 
Category:
December 7th, 2009 at 4:26 pm
All,
As you will doubtless be aware by now the railway industry has risen to the challenge of the disaster in West Cumbria in an exemplary manner. We have more than doubled the capacity available across the Derwent bridge, we have produced emergency car parks, we have provided extra waiting shelters and Network Rail produced a new station in a week!
It has been a great pleasure to have been a part of this extraordinary operation where solutions have been produced to keep Sellafield working – more than 1200 of their labour force live north of the River Derwent across which the bridges collapsed. DRS have produced the shuttle trains with a class 47 at one end and a class 37 at the other and the government has given us a free railway from Maryport to Workington until 31/12/2009. On two morning peak services (8.21 and 8.33 out of Maryport) we are regularly uplifting in excess of 500 passengers.
Nobody has said no – nobody has failed to respond – nobody failed to recognise from day one that the train really had to take the strain. The horrendous circumstances faced by the people of the area have at least been alleviated by this magnificent effort.
Your (former) CRO, John Kitchen – Rail Officer – Cumbria
p.s. Good luck to Sally!
December 9th, 2009 at 11:27 pm
Congratulations to all concerned. Why do we have to wait for a disaster to cut through government red tape and Health and Safety nonsence to achieve such a fine and quick result?
January 5th, 2011 at 4:57 pm
It’s more than a year later, overcrowding is even worse and yet Northern still have no further units.
I hear the Olive Mount victim, 142042, has been rebuilt at Doncaster Works and is now returned to Newton Heath. It’s currently going through some checks and a few more modifications before it goes back out into service in the next couple of weeks.
The other two units mentioned above have now returned to service.