Double boost for Blackburn-Bolton railway plan

A LONG-RUNNING campaign to improve rail links between Bolton and Blackburn has received a double boost.

Electrification and the restoration of the “double track” railway between the towns are options being investigated by transport chiefs.

Now Bolton Council has agreed to seek an alliance to improve rail links and protect existing ones.

The authority will work with Blackburn with Darwen and Ribble Valley to launch a campaign for the replacement of the current single line.

Coun David Chadwick, Bolton Council's cabinet member for Highways and Transport, said: “Network Rail has started to evaluate how the rail network in East Lancashire can be improved and have already carried out some proprietary investigation work.”

Comments(9)

kempy says...
11:11am Tue 4 Sep 12

What good news long awaited will stop alot of problems

kempy says...
11:11am Tue 4 Sep 12

What good news long awaited will stop alot of problems

kempy says...
11:11am Tue 4 Sep 12

What good news long awaited will stop alot of problems

cathedral citi says...
11:50am Tue 4 Sep 12

It makes common sense, not only to double the track, but to electrify it too! Electrification through to Carlisle, via the settle/Ribbleshead line, creating a viable and competitive alternative to the west coast main line, would be fab!

Come on transport chiefs, railway usage is increasing year on year. A realistic evaluation and implementation is needed!

xrjxman says...
2:15pm Tue 4 Sep 12

NO WAY..... the whole experience/ pleasure of the Settle & Carlisle is the complete lack of new fangled systems. Railways still as they WERE and long may it remain !!

Leave well alone... at least on the S & C. surely. Do what you will over/under Sough and beyond.

kempy says...
2:52pm Tue 4 Sep 12

As long as they can still run the steam trains along the route just doubleing the line would be great.

Noiticer says...
3:03pm Tue 4 Sep 12

Who exactly are these transport chiefs and what clout do they carry with the Department of Transport in London who supply the cash? It is obvious to everyone that the track needs redoubling as sooon as possible but as for electrification...? Yes, we would all like to see electrification of both this line and the East Lancs Line but it appears highly unlikely in the current scheme of things. The line can't be electrified to Blackburn alone as the service runs to Clitheroe and to stop at Blackburn wouldn't make operating sense.
This is a story that is all hot air and little substance.

woolywords says...
9:28pm Tue 4 Sep 12

Hang on a minute! Whoa there, lad!
Wasn't this self same idea mooted when Jack Walker was around, with him offering to stump up for a station at Ewood? Then again in 2010?

I don't want to be the killjoy here but isn't there a tunnel on the line, with a single track between here and Bolton?

woolywords says...
9:48pm Tue 4 Sep 12

...and in next weeks news, plans to widen the Leeds-Liverpool canal now that it is linked to Albert Dock have moved a step closer.
The canal widening scheme is expected to facilitate banana boats being able to travel as far up as Eanam Wharf with this restored and revived to it's former glory. The unnamed spokesperson for the scheme went on to say, 'We envisage that will be real boost to local businesses with it's ready supply of cheaper labour arriving weekly.'
The plans include the reopening of the former refugee camp at Sangatte, France, which was closed in 2002 after serious rioting.
Banana boats are the ideal mode of transportation because of their shallow draught which would negate the need to deepen the canal thus saving on the construction costs. Similar craft are often seen cruising up and down the tidal river Danube, carrying hundreds of thousands of people each year.

click2find

About cookies

We want you to enjoy your visit to our website. That's why we use cookies to enhance your experience. By staying on our website you agree to our use of cookies. Find out more about the cookies we use.

I agree