And how many people would you think "commute" on the 10.20 from Fort William to Mallaig ?

Answers on a postcard to ----------:D

Don't be so snappy SFE, I'm sure it made no sense to most of us.:rolleyes::D

I should add that the KWVR is also considering similar plans. Technically it has done it already as local residents take the train when running to the shops etc.
Last month I saw a poster on the ELR advertising the use of the line for shopping in its current state but I doubted that could work because of the erratic timetable. Hopewfully the new plans could make it work.

Sorry about that.
On the west highland there are always similar amounts of people on the DMUs.

Hi SFE,
Don't forget the "plans" you refer to regarding the ELR commuter scheme are only at the idea stage yet,true studies have been carried out,but overall it is part of a ten/fifteen year transport plan for the councils involved.
Nothing as yet as been decided on wether it could be light or heavy rail or even more importantly where the funding for these plans will come from.
Indeed there is nothing to stop the councils from dropping the idea and lookig at other alternatives.

Cheers John

One thing is for sure is that the line will not kick out the heritage aspect.
I have heard suggestions of Parry people movers being used.
There are many different types and are cheap too.

We do indeed have a DMU Pesmo, infact we have two DMUs and a DEMU, all of which will be out for our Multiple Unit Event on Saturday. And your Metrolink info is also spot on, we had a trainful of materials come in on Saturday, and I believe that the 37s will be working underneath the wires this weekend.

You've lost me a little bit with this SFE. To my knowledge there's never been any station called Bury South, would I be right in suggesting that you're advocating a station near Bury South signalbox? And I'm also quite confused about your comments describing Bury as a siding.

Sorry Pav.
By siding I refer to the line which links Bolton street with the Metrolink connection via Buckley Wells. It is not used by passengers and it is rare to see anything moving down there apart for un sociable times of day.

Someone said that a bury south station was planned a while back.
Bury south I think would have been by the metrolink junction.

Lots of potential for the ELR.

Hi SFE,
Your dreams of commuter services on the ELR are just that; dreams. In the real world the whole length of the ELR is closely followed by the M66 and because of this it will never attract commuters on a regular basis.
The ELR does a wonderful job of attracting daytrippers and tourists. If greater emphasis was put on the access to the wonderful hills around Rossendale and the many walks available, they may be able to open up another market for the railway.
Up on the moors above Rawtenstall/ Ramsbottom there are the remains of extensive narrow gauge railways which served the numerous quarries that operated there; yet another market opportunity. I used to spend a great deal of time tracing these tracks when I lived in Edenfield (3 miles South of Rawtenstall).

To be honest, that section is used very regularily. As the vast majority of our engines and units are kept at Baron Street, it is used whenever we're operating a service. Also, because the C&W works are down there, it's often used during the week when we're shunting.