“Not just for the bucket and spade brigade” as BR manager at York told us in 1984. Of course not! A new “Roses Rail Link” Leeds-Preston semi-fast every two hours. We thought it might be worth extending to Blackpool (one train went through from the start). Now the service is hourly, 7 days a week, through from York to Blackpool, taking students, shoppers, day-outers, concert goers, stags and hens, business people, and leisure seekers. Stops include Leeds, Bradford and Preston, as well Halifax, Hebden Bridge, Blackburn. A 40-year success story introduced by good-old, bad- old British Rail’s provincial sector (later Regional Railways) in 1985. Previously the line via Copy Pit had been used by a small number of Leeds-Blackpool trains that had been whittled down to one a day each way, but had mean earmarked for more freight. A daily Preston-Bradford one- each-way train started earlier in 1985 to help staff of the National & Provincial Building Society commute to relocated offices in Bradford. Did one innovation enable the other? Or was this a bit of synergistic serendipity? A moot point.
What about Sowerby Bridge, then?
Stopping patterns have varied. Recently Garforth has been added to Church Fenton, and west of Preston, Kirkham is now served Mon-Sat.
Sunday trains also serve Sowerby Bridge and Mytholmroyd. There is a clear case for all to stop at Sowerby Bridge with its large hinterland spanning south-west Halifax and the Ryburn valley. Sowerby Bridge are frustrated by the sight of half their trains running through without stopping. HADRAG believes all trains that go through this station should stop. We believe this is achievable with small adjustment to timings. This may be oversimplification but Sunday trains that do stop take the same time from Blackpool to York as Mon-Sat ones that don’t. We are taking this up – again! – with Northern and will report back. Latest footfall statistics are very encouraging at Sowerby Bridge.
The Roses trains linking Lancs and Yorks are huge success. They need more capacity – more coaches, maybe more trains. Anyone for a second train each hour, say Preston to Leeds via Brighouse and Dewsbury?
“158809 Hall Royd Junction” flickr photo by RyanTaylor1986 https://flickr.com/photos/ryantaylorphotography/6633147563 shared under a Creative Commons (BY-NC-ND) license
Halifax and District Rail Action Group 