Pendle Connect, the innovative bus/rail ticket that allows users to buy a ticket on a bus in the Pendle 7 area and continue their journey by rail from Colne, Brierfield or Nelson is to be relaunched. Posters will be appearing at stations in the area shortly and a new flyer has been designed (click on the image below to download a copy) and this will be available on buses in the area and also at Nelson Interchange. For more information on this ticket and the East Lancashire Day Ranger please contact info@communityraillancashire.co.uk.

Pendle Connect

The Great Wall of Daisyfield Project is now complete. The project, vinyl banners depicting the journey between Blackburn and Clitheroe was officially unveiled on Wednesday 3rd March 2010.

Before the ceremony the children of Class 6, who worked with local artist Alastair Nicholson to create the banners, did a PowerPoint presentation about the project in front of the whole school and invited guests in the school hall. 

The ‘unveiling’ was carried out by the Mayor of Blackburn Cllr James Hirst in a ceremony in the infants playground at Daisyfield School. Class 6, lined the banner and the invited guests from the Clitheroe Line Community Rail Partnership including James Syson, (Chair), Marjorie Birch (Vice Chair), Richard Watts (Secretary), Kathryn O’Brien and Jane Lennaine (Northern Rail), Alison Chew (GMPTE) and Karen Hornby (Network Rail) listened to a motivational speech by the mayor which highlighted the importance of partnership working and the benefits of rail travel. Also in attendance were Alastair (the artist), Brian Haworth and Simon Clarke (Community Rail Development Officers).

After the ceremony the children and guests returned the hall to see the Mayor cut a cake decorated with Brian the Bull, the famous cartoon character from the Explore the Ribble Valley Line DVD, the project which kick started the whole Great Wall of Daisyfield project.

Colin Cooper, one of the founding members of the Prospects environmental charity and leading light in the Friends of Rishton station group has been honoured in a ceremony in Rishton. Colin who works tirelessly to keep Rishton and its station clean and tidy has had a new clock in Parker Street garden dedicated to him in  a ceremony on Saturday 27th February.

Click on the image belowto see the full story.

The South Fylde and East Lancashire Line CRPs have recently been successful in bidding for money from the Designated Line Commnity Rail Development Fund.

The South Fylde Line CRP is to use their money to design and print a 12 page A5 brochure to market the line. The brochure will highlight the attractions of this scenic line and also give users ideas of things to do and places to visit.

The East Lancashire Line CRP is looking to give the Pendle Connect ticket a marketing boost. The Pendle Connect ticket is a revolutionary new combined bus and rail ticket, that offers the opportunity to buy a ticket on the bus in the Pendle area, travel to your local rail station and then continue your journey by rail to Accrington, Blackburn or Preston! The grant money will be used to design new posters, and leaflets to publicise the ticket at bus and rail stations and also on the bus. Click here for more information about the Pendle Connect ticket

Northern Rail, Transdev and the East Lancashire Community Rail Partnership have agreed some changes to the East Lancashire Day Ranger, and these came into effect on January 2nd 2010. The time restriction has been lifted and the ticket is now available all day and along with the addition of two new bus routes, Blackburn to Chorley and Burnley to Todmorden, makes the ticket an even better way to spend a day out in East Lancashire! Full details of the changes can be found by clicking HERE.

Northern Rail have announced significant changes to their Duo tickets that will benefit customers travelling throughout Lancashire. Currently the Duo ticket is only available between two points on a line of route and the changes will allow customers to buy Duo tickets that cover more than one line of route.

Details of the changes can be seen below:

Clitheroe – Manchester Victoria via Darwen line to all stations on the East Lancashire line (Colne /Burnley Manchester Road – Blackburn section).

Clitheroe line (Clitheroe – Blackburn section) / East Lancashire line (Colne / Burnley Manchester Road – Preston) to all station on the Ormskirk branch.

Clitheroe line (Clitheroe – Blackburn section) to all stations as far as Preston.

Burnley Manchester Road to Manchester Victoria via Hebden Bridge

Ormskirk branch to Liverpool Stations via Ormskirk and Merseyrail Electrics

Kirkby, Rainford and Upholland to station via Wigan / Atherton to Manchester Victoria

Finally Blackpool South branch and Blackpool North, Poulton-le-Fylde & Kirkham & Wesham to

Blackburn and station beyond on the East Lancashire line – these are only valid in this direction

only.

New ‘eco lights’ part funded by the Designated Line Community Rail Development Fund, have now been installed at Brierfield and Rishton station car parks. The lights, powered by solar panels and small wind turbines, are part of the ‘Greening of the East Lancashire Line’ project.

The East Lancashire CRP has been successful in bidding for a grant towards preparing a Station Guide as part of its Station Travel Plan. The grant from the Designated Line Community Rail Development Fund amounts to £3250.00 and will be match funded from other sources, including the SusStations Interreg IVB European Project.

RVR Santa Services

Ribble Valley Rail, the user group for the Clitheroe Line will once again be running its famous Santa Services on Saturdays 12th & 19th December 2009. The Santa Services are specially decorated service trains and depart Manchester Victoria at 11.00 and 14.00.

Santa joins the train at Blackburn and all children under 12 years old will receive a goody bag as Santa passes through the train. RVR voulnteers will also be handing out mince pies and sherry for the adults. Click on the image for more details of the Santa Services in 2009.

Ribble Valley Rail has once again been supported by Booths Supermarkets, D Byrne & Co., Northern Rail, Lancashire County Council, British Transport Police & Ribble Valley Borough Council.

Come along and join in the fun! No need to book – normal fares apply with an hourly return service! Click here for full timetable.

For the second year running, the West of Lancashire CRP in partnership with Northern Rail and Network Rail will be running Christmas Shopper Services on Sunday 6th December 2009. The services between Preston and Ormskirk are unusual in that there isn’t normally a service on the line on Sundays. There will be five trains in each direction starting with a 10.00 departure from Preston. For full details of this exciting opportunity please click here!