MP releases update on Rawtenstall – Manchester commuter rail link

Andy MacNae MP has released an update on his campaign to provide a commuter rail link from Rawtenstall to Manchester.

His vision would see commuter trains utilise the East Lancashire Railway, which runs heritage trains between Rawtenstall and Heywood via Ramsbottom and Bury Bolton Street.

The MP says that whilst the scheme was left out of the Transport Implementation Plan, he has been assured that this rail link will be in the final version of the plan.

This opens the way to develop a proper feasibility case for the line, and means that he can begin having meetings about the line and the case.

We don’t want this connection, it will get in the way of other events and disrupt the place,, anyway B.R deemed it redundant so it’s their loss,,, hands off….

Similarly to what others have said, Severn Valley Railway have launched a service from Bewdley to Kidderminster, where passengers switch from SVR to WMR main station. East Lancs could do same, leave the heritage railway as it is and utilise their rolling stock

There are enough other preserved lines in the North West, the conversion of the ELR to a proper commuter line wouldn’t be a great loss, and the benefits for the local communities along the line would be worthwhile. The current bus routes are tediously slow, especially the X41 bus

A solution will have to be found that the ELR Heritage Line and a Commuter Line complement each other and the ELR does not lose out. New houses are being built all the time in Rawtenstall and Bacup. If this will reduce traffic on the roads towards Manchester surely it must be a good thing.

This surely cannot happen. How many commuters would travel? Perhaps if someone underwrote the costs a peak time diesel service could be tried by ELR , this would prove if there is the need without the cost of implementing full time services. I think the bigger issue here is that the Lancashire sections have not benefited like towns like Bury and Ramsbottom. Friends who live in area told me Ramsbottom for example was dead until the ELR arrived, now there and Bury are easily the best tow towns within Manchester.

Heritage railway to expand in Network Rail link-up


The heritage railway charity is known for its annual Santa Special service

Volunteers at a heritage railway have teamed up with Network Rail to expand their offering.

More than 800 volunteers help to run the East Lancashire Railway (ELR), which was originally built in the railway boom of the 1840s.

A Network Rail spokesperson said its partnership with ELR would enable the charity to offer more heritage rail experiences, community events and learning opportunities.

They said this would include hosting the Railway 200 Inspiration train - a travelling exhibition charting the past, present and future of railways.

The exhibition runs at Bury Bolton Street station until Saturday as part of a national tour.

The agreement will enable railway materials no longer needed on the national rail network - including rails, sleepers and equipment - to be reused safely on the country's heritage lines, helping to keep historic trains running while reducing waste and costs.

Phil James, Network Rail's north-west route director, said working with heritage railways like the ELR "allows us to give new life to materials that would otherwise be recycled, while also supporting organisations that do such important work in preserving railway history".

ELR chairman Mike Kelly said the partnership would "provide vital access to heritage fixtures and fittings, some of which are unavailable".

The ELR was closed to passengers by British Rail in 1972. It was rebuilt later that decade and into the 1980s, reopening between Bury and Ramsbottom in 1987 before then being extended to Rawtenstall and Heywood.

The 12.5 mile (20km) heritage route runs through the scenic Irwell Valley, passing industrial relics, factories, fields and cottages. It is a popular tourist attraction, particularly at Christmas when it operates Santa Specials, which are only made possible due to a team of more than 800 volunteers.

THREE teenagers have been charged in connection with vandalism at East Lancashire Railway in Bury.

Two girls aged 13 and 14 have been charged with criminal damage as has a 13-year-old boy.

They cannot be named for legal reasons.

It's been a week of mixed emotions for us at the ELR, from celebrating our 30th Anniversary and the dedication of our inspiring volunteers on Tuesday to cleaning up the aftermath of mindless vandals.

Over the past week we have been subject to a series of vandal attacks which have seen a number of vehicles damaged by graffiti, forced entry and smashed windows.

We have estimated that it will cost between £20,000 - £30,000 to repair the damage, as well as a lot of time and effort. It is deeply saddening for the entire ELR family to see both our heritage and hard work destroyed.