The Anonymous Widower

National Trust Looks At Car Ban In Lake District

The title of this post is the same as that as that of this article in yesterday’s Sunday Times.

The secondary headline sums up the article.

Nearly 20m visitors a year are ‘loving the national park to death’, and officials are looking at excluding drivers.

So what is to be done?

Can The Railways Help?

In 2015, I spent Three Days in Preston and explored the area by train.

These problems were apparent on the trains and at the stations.

• The capacity, quality and frequency of the trains to Windermere is pitiful.
• The capacity, quality and frequency of the trains along the Cumbrian Coast Line is inadequate.
• Bus information and interchanges could be better.
• Getting a train to Penrith North Lakes station was difficult.

The only line with an acceptable train service is the West Coast Main Line.

Everything else needs major improvements.

These are some random thoughts.

Could Carlisle Become The Rail Tourism Centre For The Borderlands And The Lakes?

These rail lines and services are already or will be connected to Carlisle Citadel station, within the next few years.

• Virgin services on the West Coast Main Line between London and the South and Glasgow and Edinburgh in Central Scotland.
• TransPennine Express services on the West Coast Main Line between Liverpool and Manchester in the South and Glasgow.
• Possible Grand Union services on the West Coast Main Line between London and Stirling for the North of Scotland.
• High Speed Two services between London and the South and Glasgow and Edinburgh in Central Scotland.
• ScotRail services on the Glasgow South Western Line between Carlisle and Glasgow via Dumfries and Kilmarnock.
• ScotRail services on an extended Borders Railway between Carlisle and Edinburgh via Hawick and Galashiels.
• Northern services on the Tyne Valley Line between Carlisle and Newcastle via Hexham and the Metro Centre.
• Northern services on the Settle and Carlisle Line between Carlisle and Leeds.
• Northern services on the Cumbrian Coast Line between Carlisle and Carnforth via Workington, Whitehaven and Barrow.

Carlisle sits at the centre of a network of some of the most scenic rail lines, anywhere in the world.

Rail services in the area with the exception of the through services, provided by Virgin and TransPennine Express are probably considered by their operators to be a pain.

• They are generally not used by commuters.
• There are regular operational problems like floods and landslips.
• They are overcrowded at some times of the year and need expensive new rolling stock.
• Rail tourists from aboard probably complain like mad.

But above all the services probably lose money hand over fist.

What Is The Ideal Train For Scenic Routes?

Two possible trains for scenic routes are now in service in the UK.

The Scottish Solution – Inter7City

ScotRail are now introducing four- and five-car InterCity 125 trains on routes between the seven cities in Scotland.

They will probably do a good job and they have the following.

• Large windows to enjoy the views.
• Many seats have tables.
• An on-board buffet and trolley service.
• Wi-fi and power sockets for phones and laptops.
• The trains should be reliable, as there is a vast knowledge base about running these trains.
• The trains can be easily lengthened, by adding extra cars.
• The trains were 125 mph trains and are probably slower in this application.

But the trains are forty years old and have two enormous diesel engines on each end.

The Swiss Solution – Class 755 train

Greater Anglia are introducing three- and four-car Class 755 trains on rural routes in East Anglia.

They appear to be doing a good job with high passenger satisfaction and they have the following.

• Large windows to enjoy the views.
• A number of seats have tables.
• Space for bicycles.
• Wi-fi and power sockets for phones and laptops.
• The trains have level access between train and platform.
• Hopefully, the trains will be reliable, as they are brand new and Stadler has been making similar trains for over ten years.
• The trains can use 25 KVAC overhead electrification, where it is available.
• The trains can work in multiple formations.
• The trains can be easily lengthened, by adding extra cars.
• The trains are 100 mph trains.

But the trains still have a diesel power-pack in the middle for operation independently.

In future, these trains will be used to run new services between London and Lowestoft, which is a distance of 118 miles of which 59 miles is electrified.

Similar trains will be fitted with batteries for the South Wales Metro.

Could a train be built with the best of all the features?

I believe the Class 755 train is a pretty good start, but it would have the following extra features.

• Ability to run at up to 125 mph on 25 KVAC overhead or 750 VDC third rail, where the track allows.
• A well-designed buffet.
• 50 mile battery range.
• A stand-by generator.
• The ability to fast-charge the battery at a station stop.

I also think that Hitachi could make a five-car AT-300 train and Bombardier could make an Aventra, that met this specification.

What would a fleet of battery-electric trains do for the rail lines around Carlisle?

• Hopefully, they would become a tourist attraction in their own right and encourage visitors to corm by train.
• Frequencies would be at least two trains per hour on all routes.

This could be a starting point for making the area easier to access.

Should Stations Around The Lakes Be Developed With Bus Interchanges?

I’ve seen the bus interchange at Windermere station, but are other stations around the Lakes as well provided with comprehensive bus routes?

The objective surely should be that if a family wanted to have a day out in the Lakes from their home in Liverpool or Manchester, they should be able to get a train to a convenient station and a bus to their final destination.

Surely, if there is a sensible alternative, then visitors might use it.

Could The Cockermouth, Keswick and Penrith Railway Be Reopened?

The Cockermouth, Keswick and Penrith Railway was finally closed in the 1970s and according to Wikipedia, the track-bed has been used for roads and other developments.

I doubt that the railway could be reopened, but a modern light rail route would probably be a very valuable tourist asset.

But Would Good Train And Bus Routes Cut The Traffic In The Lakes?

I doubt it!

If someone has spent £40,000 or more on an expensive car, they feel they have bought the right to drive it anywhere they want!

The Dutch once talked about road pricing for every vehicle and that government lost the next election.

Conclusion

Traffic congestion in the Lakes, is a problem that threatens other areas, where tourists want to go.

So will as the National Trust are suggesting have to ban cars to restore some sanity?

I suspect so!

But it won’t be popular!

 

 

November 11, 2019 - Posted by AnonW | Transport/Travel | Aventra, Borders Railway, Carlisle Station, Class 755 Train, Class AT-300 Train, Congestion Charge, Cumbrian Coast Line, Inter7City, Lake District, TransPennine Express, Tyne Valley Line, Virgin Trains, West Coast Main Line