Do we want a giant trainset or a transport system? I SUPPOSE it was inevitable that money would be spent to restore Carnforth station (RAIL 373) despite it not being what the town or the area needs. A far better option would be to demolish the current structure and replace it with a new two-platform station with shelter-style of building a little to the south and west. This would allow trains on the WCML to stop at Carnforth and to ease the curves for trains travelling towards Skipton and Barrow A scheme like this could be the start of improved journey times and connections for Leeds-Lancaster trains via Carnforth, currently a sluggish but pretty backwater. It would improve Barrow-Carlisle via WCML times as well. It might even make extension of Clitheroe trains to Hellifield attractive to make use of these better connections. The plans for Carnforth typify the schizophrenia of rail enthusiasts. They cannot decide whether they want a modern transport system or a big trainset-cum-museum. The same people who want money spent on railways still want to preserve everything and to have the run of the network for preserved vehicles. If you want a nationwide museum system, restore Carnforth. If you want a modern network, sadly this is one station that has to go. If you want a museum station, Hellifield is nicer. Andrew Skinner, Silverdale, Lancashire. This article is from "RAIL" magazine, issue 375 (January 26 - February 8 2000) This article is copyright , "RAIL"
magazine and may not be reproduced, without prior permission from "RAIL"
magazine.
|
|||||||
