Railwatch 084 - June 2000

Yorkshire

By Peter Davies

James Towler A plaque in memory of the late James Towler was unveiled at Settle in April. Members of the Yorkshire branch, the Friends of the Settle and Carlisle line, and representatives of the Central Rail Users Consultative Committee, the North Western Rail Users Consultative Committee, and the North Eastern Rail Users Consultative Committee attended. The plaque was unveiled by Mrs Muriel Towler. Her son Angus was also present. Mrs Towler was presented with a bouquet of flowers - in the colours of the Midland Railway - by Yorkshire branch chairman Peter G Davies. The plaque commemorates the work of the late Mr Towler in saving the Settle and Carlisle line from closure in the late 1980s, and his work on behalf of rail users.

Hull From the commencement of the summer timetable, the present Hull-Manchester Piccadilly service will be extended to Manchester airport, increasing the number of trains from Leeds, Dewsbury, and Huddersfield to Manchester airport, to two trains per hour during the day.

Funding has been secured to provide an hourly fast service between Hull, Doncaster and Sheffield from September. This major advance has been achieved in partnership with the South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive whose active support has been vital.

The timetable will double the number of connections at Doncaster with GNER services. Faster times will be achieved between Hull, Doncaster and Sheffield, with a reduction of 20 minutes off the present journey times. The reduction in journey times will improve connections at Sheffield for passengers using Midland Main line, Virgin Cross Country, and other trains serving South Yorkshire.

Huddersfield Travel Centre The fully refurbished concourse and the new Travel Centre at Huddersfield were opened in February. These give modern, expanded and comfortable facilities to cope with business growth and have enhanced the appearance of this important Grade One listed building. A new trading unit selling newspapers, confectionery and snacks and a new waiting room will follow within a few weeks.

Leeds, Lancaster and Morecambe The final submission for Rail Partnership funding has been submitted to the Strategic Rail Authority. The bid is supported by Lancashire County, Lancaster City, North Yorkshire County, and Craven District councils, as well as Northern Spirit and other organisations. The bid is seeking funding for an additional three trains in each direction each weekday.

New trainsThe first of the new class 333 units arrived at Neville Hill Depot, Leeds, in March and should be in service by October.

Beverley Opening hours are about to double at Beverley railway station ticket office to meet rising demand. A trial period for the new timings will operate for the whole of the summer starting from 27 March, and success will result in the changes being made permanent.

Goole A £600,000 scheme to provide Goole with a new station is about to begin as part of Railtrack's station regeneration programme. The new single storey modular building will include a ticket office and a waiting area, plus the existing canopy will be extended. Areas on the approach to the station will be landscaped and the car park resurfaced. The work will complement the recent local authority improvements to the town centre.

During the scheme a temporary ticket office will be provided to ensure that inconvenience to passengers is kept to a minimum

Brighouse Work on the new railway station should by now be complete and the new service started with the summer timetable.

LeedsWork is continuing on the Leeds First Scheme, and the new train indicator on the station concourse is now in position and working. New track is being delivered for the flyover just beyond Leeds West Junction.

Pickering The North Yorkshire Moors Railway station's £416,000 refurbishment is expected to be complete for reopening over the weekend of 8-9 April. The building is being restored to 1930s condition with the aid of a 75% Heritage Lottery Fund grant.

Sheffield The £7.2m regeneration of the station, a Grade Two listed structure, will include facilities for the disabled which could serve as a national model.

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