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Longer and faster trains are needed
More capacity is needed on local railways to serve rising passenger numbers, says a transport campaigner.
Aire Valley Rail Users' Group chairman Tim Calow also called for changes in attitude by rail bosses.
He suggested solutions such as more, longer or faster trains on the line through Keighley.
Mr Calow was writing an overview of local rail travel in the 50th issue of the group's magazine Airelines.
He looked at progress over the past 20 years, current problems and potential solutions over the next two decades.
He said many trains which left Skipton on time, travelling through Keighley, were late by the time they reached Shipley.
Mr Calow believed passenger numbers would continue to rise, especially on the route into Leeds.
He said: "Building more roads is not realistic or sustainable so we will need more capacity on the railway."
Mr Calow said more trains would need improvements to the signals and longer trains would need major rebuilding of stations.
The rail users' group holds its annual meeting on April 19, at 2pm, in Saltaire Methodist Church Hall.
Details of the group and the magazine are available by e-mail at steve@stevebroadbent.net.
11:30am Sunday 23rd March 2008
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CommentPosted by: Paul, Skipton on 12:54pm Sun 23 Mar 08
Trains do arrive at Shipley a couple of minutes late Mr Calow because the timetable only allows for a 30 second stop at each station. In the rush hour it takes twice this time to board all passengers. However they usually arrive in Leeds, Bradford or Skipton on time because the timings between the final two stations are more generous. As for longer trains only Skipton, Keighley and Bingley have the station lengths to cope with this. Shipley does not and there is no room for expanding. There is no future in having longer trains doing limited stops. That just creates longer empty trains. The solution lies in making Bradford trains all stops, Leeds trains limited stops, and utillising the Bradford to Leeds trains which at present run nearly empty for much of the day. Longer trains could be used between Bradford and Leeds because with the exception of Frizinghall all the platforms on this route are long. Major changes will come because the building of the new station at Kirkstall will necesitate this.
Trains do arrive at Shipley a couple of minutes late Mr Calow because the timetable only allows for a 30 second stop at each station. In the rush hour it takes twice this time to board all passengers. However they usually arrive in Leeds, Bradford or Skipton on time because the timings between the final two stations are more generous. As for longer trains only Skipton, Keighley and Bingley have the station lengths to cope with this. Shipley does not and there is no room for expanding. There is no future in having longer trains doing limited stops. That just creates longer empty trains. The solution lies in making Bradford trains all stops, Leeds trains limited stops, and utillising the Bradford to Leeds trains which at present run nearly empty for much of the day. Longer trains could be used between Bradford and Leeds because with the exception of Frizinghall all the platforms on this route are long. Major changes will come because the building of the new station at Kirkstall will necesitate this.
Posted by: Ad, Keighley on 3:00am Wed 26 Mar 08
"Building more roads is not realistic or sustainable so we will need more capacity on the railway." -Mr Calow
The Airedale line is the busiest local railway line in West Yorkshire. We all know why its the busiest - there is not ONE good road in the reigion - that connects the towns and cities. The Airedale line is great if you want to get to central Bradford or Leeds but quite useless if you need to get around to the outskirts.
All thats needed is ONE road. One decent road in the fourth largest conurbation in the UK. Infact parts of this road are already laid out - all that is needed is a 2 mile link from the end of the Bingley bypass to North Bradford, where we'd hope to see some Canal Road improvements.
The M65 - M606 route was meant to be Motorway. This route has been built (non-Mortorway) to a much smaller extent and in parts. The only places where you see congestion along the route is the unbuilt parts - which are the bottlenecks. Those being Colne, Hard Ings Road, Keighley, Saltaire, Shipley, Canal Road. You don't see congestion anymore in Bingley - thanks in part to the Bingley bypass.
Building more roads or even ONE small road is the only realistic way to deal with congestion within the Airedale Valley. Its also the only way to bring about economical prosperity to the reigion. Having more capacity on the trains is good - but is unrealistic as many people will not leave their cars, vans and lorries for which ever reason. For some its a necessity for others using trains and buses is too inconvenient.
"Building more roads is not realistic or sustainable so we will need more capacity on the railway." -Mr Calow
The Airedale line is the busiest local railway line in West Yorkshire. We all know why its the busiest - there is not ONE good road in the reigion - that connects the towns and cities. The Airedale line is great if you want to get to central Bradford or Leeds but quite useless if you need to get around to the outskirts.
All thats needed is ONE road. One decent road in the fourth largest conurbation in the UK. Infact parts of this road are already laid out - all that is needed is a 2 mile link from the end of the Bingley bypass to North Bradford, where we'd hope to see some Canal Road improvements.
The M65 - M606 route was meant to be Motorway. This route has been built (non-Mortorway) to a much smaller extent and in parts. The only places where you see congestion along the route is the unbuilt parts - which are the bottlenecks. Those being Colne, Hard Ings Road, Keighley, Saltaire, Shipley, Canal Road. You don't see congestion anymore in Bingley - thanks in part to the Bingley bypass.
Building more roads or even ONE small road is the only realistic way to deal with congestion within the Airedale Valley. Its also the only way to bring about economical prosperity to the reigion. Having more capacity on the trains is good - but is unrealistic as many people will not leave their cars, vans and lorries for which ever reason. For some its a necessity for others using trains and buses is too inconvenient.
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