A free train ride!

Following the recent floods in Cumbria the only surviving bridge over the river Derwent for about 20 miles upstream is the railway bridge which carries the line from Workington to Carlisle. To get from the site of the photograph to the south side of Workington involves a road journey of some 40 miles. To alleviate some of the transport difficulties Network Rail built a temporary station about a mile north of the river and the local train operator (Northern Rail) offered to allow passengers to travel free from Workington Town to the new station, or to Flimby or Maryport. To bolster the exisitng basic hourly service Northern Rail have hired a train (4 coaches, two locos) to run a shuttle service from Maryport to Workington. It was well used when I sampled it this afternoon. The bridge below is currently the only link between Workington North and South. The fact that it has 6 or 7 piers could well have saved it from the fate of the others.

  

This is the road bridge which did not survive.

This is Workington North temporary station, built entirely out of scaffolding poles and wooden decking. It was built from scratch in 5 days. To the RH side is the car park (200 capacity) and the path between the railway and the car park is Sustrans route 72.

This is the free train, approaching Maryport from the south. It has 4 coaches,  the 3 blue ones being from the trainsets which worked the West Coast main line before the Pendolinos. They are quiet and ride well. With 5,500HP available from the two locos, performance is "adequate". The path just west of the railway line is part of Sustrans route 72 - Hadrian's Way