About us
About us
The Cumbrian coast Rail Users’ Group represents the interests of rail users in West Cumbria and particularly on the Cumbrian coast line from Carlisle to Barrow together with connected services at Carlisle, Barrow and Lancaster.
Our current campaign is to get better toilets at Sellafield station. There is a single unisex toilet with urinals and cubicles which is totally unsuitable. The National Rail website lists it as a gents toilet only and Northern says there isn’t a toilet. What we need are as a minimum a refurbished unisex toilet with cubicles only and daily cleaning but preferably a refurbished gents and a new ladies toilet.
Our manifesto has a list of wants, some of which have now been achieved. The following are current:
CRUG Manifesto November 2018
Objectives
Stations
Maintain and where necessary extend platform lengths Needed for four coach trains
Raise platform heights at additional stations Harrington humps provided at some stations but need to be extended in most cases
Passenger information systems These have been installed at some stations but need to be more reliable and accurate, listing trains in the next two hours
Protect and improve parking facilities Needed at additional stations eg Foxfield
Promote facilities for cyclists More secure storage needed at stations
Improve platform access for cyclists and people with disabilities Gates particularly need modifying or where possible removing
Ensure signage to/at stations Particularly for pedestrians and at a distance from stations
Monitor and improve environment (buildings, cleanliness, gardens etc) Whitehaven needs extensive improvement and extension with transport hub provision; Sellafield toilets are being replaced
Improve servicing of West Cumbria bay area at Carlisle Still needs better cleaning
Services
Complete evenly spread daytime timetable Further improvements due May 2019 – should remove gaps from hourly timetable and reinstate early morning Whitehaven-Carlisle train
Full evening services south of Whitehaven Need later evening trains
Sunday services Need earlier trains between Whitehaven and Carlisle and fill gaps in hourly service
Remove missed stops wherever possible 2019 timetables
Improve West coast main line connections at Lancaster and Carlisle Try to provide 15/20 minute connections with London trains
Improve connections/through services within franchise Particularly to Newcastle, Lancaster and Preston in 2019
Make Nethertown and Braystones request stops on all services
Investigate providing refreshments on trains
Rolling stock
Abandon 142 Pacer usage Going in 2019
Monitor internal and external cleanliness Improved but more work needed
Improve provision for cyclists and luggage Better when all four coach trains
Promote provision for newer/better stock (should gauging allow)
Try running newer stock than refurbished class 156s
Ensure stock capacity on peak services with minimum of two coaches and move to four coach standard Should be in January 2019
Infrastructure
Dual track whole line except for tunnel As a minimum reinstate double track at Parton Brows and passing loop at Nethertown
Renew signalling throughout, investigate removal of manual token-block sections and remove at least non-signalbox staffed crossings (Kirksanton (2) and Saltcoats) Resignalling is be a priority irrespective of Moorside and other developments
Promote improved rails such as continuous welded rail
Maintain/improve gauging and loading (rail tours, freight, newer rolling stock) Clearances north of Maryport must be increased
Maintain critical structures (viaducts, sea defences, Whitehaven tunnel) Considerable work done on defences
Safeguard adjacent land and track beds
Maintain crossovers at Millom, Silecroft, Bootle and Drigg
Maintain loop at St Bees
Maintain infrastructure for rail tours and reinstate turning facility
Promote usage of Sellafield-Drigg nuclear traffic
Promotion
Circulate and improve timetable leaflets
Maintain group website
Ticketing and revenue
Ensure fullest possible revenue collection
Promote special and/or cheap travel options Introduce advance tickets on line
Ensure full range of ticket availability on train and at staffed stations eg rangers and Ratty through tickets
Press for a local area network card where cardholders get a percentage reduction on off-peak fares
Extend the Lakes Day Ranger ticket’s northern limit from Workington to Carlisle
Promote rangers and rovers
Commuting, tourism and trade
Engage with local employment, tourism and business stakeholders
Promote line as a rail tour/steam excursion destination
Promote integration with other transport providers, cross ticketing etc
