52A wrote:Some of them alas showed themselves to be thick. The media didn't help by publicising the fact that people had to drive many miles to access Workington. It took them a few days to discover that the place was also served by a railway and that a short drive to Flimby would obviate all these miles travelled by car. Then to crown it all they followed a particularly bright specimen on the train and she was almost in tears saying she could not stand this terrible journey and not being able to get a seat. My heart went out to her having to stand for an endless 7 minutes! The railway bridge is built of steel/wrought iron (somebody help me here) with piles into the river bed, perhaps this helped in its preservation. There was much song and dance about how brilliant Notwork Fail were building a temporary station, BR did it regularly at Finningley. One last question, the train is free, who is paying I wonder?
The Northside Bridge was built, as so many road bridges are, at a narrow point in the river. The Merchants' Quay Viaduct was built over a wider part, so the water was not flowing as rapidly. This is in adition to other factors, such as a higher standard of contruction and maintenance.
Travelling on the train, it is obvious that many people have never travelled by train before. Some did not know that to open the doors on a Class 156 or 153 it is necessary to press a button. Others did not know that, when travelling on Direct Rail Services' Mk III FOs, they need to lower the droplight and open the dor from the outside. I have been asked, "Which side for Maryport?", which is a single-platform station.
As no tickets are issued, due to the Department for Transport footing the bill at the behest of Transport Minister Sadiq Khan, it is necessary to carry out counts from time to time. Funding has been promised until 31st May 2010.
Northern has altered its fare structure to the extent that anyone from Workington wishing to travel north of Maryport is charged only from Maryport, and passengers from Maryport wishing to travel south of Workington are charged only from Workington.
Passengers from south of Workington wishing to go to Workington North, Flimby or Maryport are charged only as far as Workington and passengers from north of Maryport wishing to go to Flimby, Workington North or Workington are charged only as far as Maryport.
As Workington North is close to the Dunmail Park shopping centre, I have asked Northern, Network Rail, Cumbria County Council and the DfT if we can have it made permanent. Dunmail Park houses west Cumbria's only cinema complex, so is popular with youngsters who previously would book tickets to Workington and walk the rest of the way.
This is not the first time that west Cumbria's railway has led the way for the rest of the system to follow. The "Harrington Hump", a low-cost solution to raising low platforms and the installation of low-cost facilities south of Millom so that stone trains could be loaded on the runing line after the last passenger train has gone have all been piloted here.
Now that the Community Rail Partnership has been confirmed, we are looking forward to more improvements in the future.