19.05.15
New loco-hauled services for Cumbrian Coast
Northern Rail has launched nine new daily locomotive-hauled services on the Cumbrian Coast to deliver 80,000 additional seats a year.
The services launched yesterday as part of the timetable change. The new trains have been provided by a partnership deal between the Department for Transport and Northern Rail and will run in addition to the 44 Northern diesel services every day.
Direct Rail Services are supplying two Class 37 locos that will each haul four refurbished Mk 2 carriages. The trains will look completely different to regular Northern stock, featuring both TOC and DfT branding alongside the DRS livery.
Stepping distances between the train and platform edge will be noticeably different at some stations and the carriages feature slam-doors rather than automatic.
The new services will also be too long for some of the platforms they serve and passengers are being advised to pay attention to announcements as to which carriages will be on the platform.
Alex Hynes, Northern Rail’s managing director, said: “The improvements along the Cumbrian Coast do mean changes to a number of services and we appreciate it will take time to get used to them. However the addition of the locomotive trains brings thousands more seats every day, improving journey experiences for our commuting customers and offering more space for visitors to this fantastic region throughout the summer.”
Transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin MP added: “A quality rail service is vital to the local economy and tourism industry in Cumbria, which is why we have worked with Northern to bring these much-needed improvements to the region.
“As part of our long-term economic plan, we are transforming rail travel across the north by providing more seats, more services and better journeys for millions of passengers.”
(Image source: DC-1971)
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