Rail Passengers Can Now Get From Farnworth To London In Two And A Half Hours
The title of this post is the same as that on this article on This Is Lancashire.
It may seem to be a bit of a parochial story for those near Farnworth station in Greater Manchester, but it is a problem that sffects many rail passengers all over the UK.
From Farnworth, the quickest way to London, is not the obvious one to go to Manchester Piccadilly.
This may involve changes of trains and busy trains in the Manchester Rush Hour.
Locals find a better way, is to take a train the other way and catch a train from Wigan North Western., where the hardest thing is to decide, whether you want a coffee, as you walk across the platform to catch the London train.
The on-line timetable now has been fixed to offer this route in addition.
These computer-knows-best routes crop up everywhere.
If I want to get to Victoria station from the bus stop around the corner, the best way is to catch a 30 bus to Highbury & Isligton station. There is a walk through the everlasting road-works at the station and a long walk in a tunnel to get to the platform, but it works.
However, the recommended route is to take a 38 bus to Essex Road station and then go out of London, by one stop to Highbury & Islington station.
This route has three problems.
- There is a double-crossing of busy roads at Essex Road station.
- Essex Road station was last cleaned and given a makeover, when King George was on the throne.
- The interchange at Highbury & Islington station is not for the unfit or anybody with a baggagge, bike or buggy
Only a computer working without human help, could design such a bad route.
As at Farnworth and with me in London, local knowledge is everything.
Sorting Out Manchester’s Routes
Northern Trains may have been thinking about passengers getting to the less busy stations.
They have introduced three new services that connect the West Coast Main Line and Greater Manchester.
- Wigan North Western and Alderly Edge
- Wigan North Western and Stalybridge
- Chester and Leeds via Warrington Bank Quay, Manchester Victoria, Rochdale, Hebden Bridge, Halifax and Bradford.
The latter route is an interesting one, as not only does it offer some good journey possibilities, but it is a scenic route through the Pennines.
An Hour In Farnworth
You might ask, why I spent an hour in Farnworth.
I wanted to take pictures of the Farnworth station and the tunnels nearby and as there is only one train an hour in both directions, that seem to arrive almost together, it meant I had to wait an hour in the rain.
This Google Map shows the station and the town.
Around Farnworth Station
Note the A666 goes over the top of the tunnels. An omen?
Note the following about the station and the area.
- The station has a sturdy reconstructed bridge at each end, which could surely be used to support the overhead electrification.
- I was surprised that there was no obvious place to put the gantries to support the wires between the bridges.
- There was no ticket machine and I had to buy one from a person, which meant a walk up to the office.
- One train an hour isn’t enough, but hopefully this will change with electrification.
- There are no facilities near the station and I had to walk up the hill to Farnworth to get a cup of tea.
- Two locals were very adamant that no new trains will be added, as all money is spent on Metrolink.
The station very much reminded me of Crouch Hill station on the Gospel Oak to Barking Line.
- Access is from a road at one end.
- They are between bridges.
- How the stations will be electrified is not obvious.
It will be interesting to see how these stations are electrified.
The Anonymous Widower 