Northern (Arriva Rail North)

[knutstransport]

RE: Northern (Arriva Rail North)

(29/06/2019 09:49)Metroline1511 Wrote:  I notice that there are no regular trains from Blackpool North to Manchester Victoria, as most if not all Blackpool trains serve Piccadilly. I wonder whether the Preston - Manchester Victoria shuttles are diesel or electric? Even if diesel, maybe they will eventually be electric once the new 331s and, if applicable, 323s from the West Midlands, reach Northern.

They are timed to be operated by 319s. The plan from Dec 2017 was 2tph from Blackpool North to Piccadilly and no direct Victoria services - it was originally going to be a Blackpool North to Macclesfield service but Northern couldn't get paths for extra Macclesfield services so they reinstated through services to Hazel Grove instead. I think the plan was for a through Preston-Victoria-Stalybridge service using 319s but Stalybridge needs wires first!

The services on the Bolton corridor are a bit of a mess at the moment. I was surprised last week when I caught a Blackpool to Manchester Airport service (the 16:53 SO one) that it stopped at all stations between Preston and Bolton when that particular service is supposed to be a semi-fast.