FLAG warns of major changes to Furness Line timings from December 2022

FLAG is in contact with Northern Rail to stop problems with the December 2022 timetable

Having seen copies of the draft December 2022 timetable, FLAG has raised a number of issues with Northern Rail. FLAG has already been involved with solving problems with more imminent timetable changes.

The December 2022 Northern timetables, including the Cumbrian Coast, are now available and individuals can provide feedback views until 1700 on 31st December 2021. The link is https://www.northernrailway.co.uk/manchester2022
You can find the timetable links by scrolling down to “The Routes” section
You can then feedback in three ways found in the “How to provide feedback” section

In a nutshell, Barrow and Windermere to Manchester trains are to be routed via Bolton rather than Wigan. This potentially speeds up the journey by 10 minutes but, as northbound trains are currently planned not to be held at Preston to wait for Euston fasts, connections with these are then missed at Lancaster (especially in the evening). This results in increased journey and waiting times from the Capital to Furness.  Better 10 minutes later into Barrow than all those missed connections!

Also, the last train into Barrow is planned to be the 21.29 from the Airport instead of the current 22.10, making the 19.10 ex-Euston rather than the 20.30 ex-Euston the last connection. It also reduces the opportunity for nights out in Manchester, for example concerts at the Bridgewater Hall which usually finish by 22.00 with current departures from Piccadilly and Oxford Road of 22.25/22.29. The equivalent 22.17 from the Airport, as well as the 21.48/22.48 services, would now all go to Blackpool North instead- very unfair!