Copeland Rail Users Group

Manifesto

We are working towards these aims. The ones in red are considered more important

          Stations:                                           

• Maintain platform lengths
• Raise platform heights
• Long-line audio/visual information and /or maintain hotline phone facility
• Maintain notices/promotion
• Protect & improve parking facilities
• Promote facilities for cyclists
• Improve platform access for cyclists and the disabled
• Ensure road signage to/at stations
• Monitor and improve environment (buildings, cleanliness, gardens, etc.)
• Maintain staffing and opening hours at Whitehaven
• Improve servicing of West Cumbria bay area at Carlisle.

        Services:                                           

• More evenly spread daytime timetable
• Later evening services
• Sunday services between Barrow and Whitehaven (in the first instance Barrow to Millom)
• Maintain WCML connections at Lancaster and Carlisle.
• Improve connections/through services to Newcastle and to Preston & beyond.
• Possible extension of TPE services to Millom

        Rolling Stock:

• Abandonment of 142 Pacer usage
• Monitor internal and external cleanliness
• Promote provision for cyclists and luggage
• Promote provision for newer/better stock 158’s/175’s (should gauging allow)
• Strengthen stock capacity on peak services.

        Infrastructure:

• Promote continuous-welded-rail
• Maintain/improve gauging and loading (railtours, freight, newer rolling stock)
• Remove non-signalbox manned-crossings (Kirksanton (2), Saltcoats (1))
• Maintain critical structures (viaducts, sea-defences, Whitehaven tunnel)
• Safeguard adjacent land and track-beds
• Maintain crossovers at Millom, Silecroft, Bootle & Drigg
• Maintain loop at St.Bees
• Maintain infrastructure for railtours
• Promote usage of Sellafield-Drigg BNFL traffic
• Investigate removal of manual token-block (Sellafield – St.Bees)
• Monitor planning applications.
• Reinstatement of double track at Parton Brows

        Promotion:

• Circulation and improvement of timetable leaflets
• Creation of group web-site.
• Produce line promotional leaflet.

        Ticketing/Revenue:

• Ensure fullest possible revenue collection
• Promote special and/or cheap travel options
• Ensure full range of ticket availability on-train and at manned stations
• Press for a local area network card (cardholders get a %age reduction on off-peak fares)
• Extend the Lakes Day Ranger ticket’s northern limit from Sellafield to Carlisle

        Commuting/Tourism/Trade:                          

• Engage with local employment, tourism, and business stakeholders
• Promote line as a railtour/steam excursion destination
• Promote integration with other transport providers, cross-ticketing, etc.

ts