Silverdale Trains

More trains to Manchester gives better onward transport connectivity to the village.

More trains to Manchester gives better onward transport connectivity to the village.

Definitely need more direct services to Manchester stopping at SIlverdale

As a regular commuter to Manchester, sometimes taking my bicycle with me I find the overcrowding and regular cancellation of trains, particularly on the return journey extremely frustrating. I am aware that there is investment in electrification and so forth, but as a lack of staff is often blamed for Northern Rail cancellations I think that they should have their operating licence revoked. They operate the worst rolling stock I have ever travelled on, including some trains where the lack of space between seats doesn't allow me to sit facing forward.

Through trains from Barrow to Manchester provide an essential connection between the Furness peninsular and the rest of the country. Regarding Silverdale, when combined with the excellent shuttle bus service we have, they provide easy and economical access to local and more distant shopping centres, without the worry of parking and cost of driving, assuming you have a car. In addition the through trains to Manchester airport are economically and environmentally better than driving. We need more and larger trains on this line stopping at Silverdale and other villages not less.

With increasing amounts of traffic on the roads and Lancaster in particular becoming gridlocked on a regular basis there is a clear argument for more trains rather than less. Rural services need protection and investment which benefits all and is environmentally freindly

As a newcomer, 15 months, it as surprised me of the number of trains that pass through Silverdale Station and do not stop. The system is ideal for visiting Lancaster, Preston and Manchester. More trains can only improve the service.

Trains through silverdale are often over crowded. More carriages are needed. It's often so crowded the guards are unable to sell tickets!

We definitely need a better service to and from Lancaster. Very well used and sometimes over-crowded trains at present

12 years ago Featured

The local bus services have been cut - there is now no direct bus to Kendal, the Silverdale Shuttle has had its working hours curtailed, and the services to Lancaster have been reduced. Surely more trains stopping (which are going through the station anyway) isn't too hard to facilitate.

In the last month we received correspondence from the local Council and a housing association re: the local housing plan for the area. If fewer trains stop at Silverdale, or trains do not have sufficient carriages then how can this support the infrastructure of this village. We use the trains regularly to Lancaster and return journeys have to be worked out for a direct return without changing at Carnforth or having to come back from Arnside. Today I went to Preston on the 8.18, after confirming with the conductor the only suitable return train stopping at Silverdale was much later in the afternoon. Consequently I had to change at Lancaster and as usual the train was packed, with many commuters having to stand. I strongly support the need for more trains stopping at Silverdale.

Recent increases in ticket numbers demonstrate the demand for improved and more frequent services from Silverdale - official records of numbers probably understated on busiest trains due to guard not able to get along to collect fares. Stopping trains at Silverdale probably adds only 2 minutes to a train journey time - this is not material and is not a reason for train companies justifying not stopping trains in the village. More carriages needed on peak trains. Strongly support need to reinstate more through trains to Manchester - changing trains a real disadvantage for less mobile travellers and for regular commuters who need the flexibility of a choice of train times, especially at the end of the day.

12 years ago Featured

I regularly commute to Manchester. However the lack of frequency for Silverdale stopping trains and the lack of through trains makes travel time inefficient and so I am forced to use a car.

I catch the train regularly. I normally have a pre-booked ticket but I can see that not all fares are paid on a regular basis due to lack of time

More carriages required at peak times. Many fares are not paid as guard can not get through the train in time on journey to Lancaster therefore no accurate count of passengers is registered

12 years ago Featured

My daughter relies on the train service to get to and from school. The trains definitely need more carriages as she often has to stand up for the whole journey, which I think is a health and safety issue.

so very important that there are more trains stopping here especially when the trains actually go through Silverdale.

My main issue is the lack of carriages usually going to Lancaster. My children and I were once so squashed travelling from Silverdale to Lancaster that the driver opened his 'cab' and we sat in the spare drivers seat; my 6 year old loved it! I have been told that as the train is SO packed the conductor does not come through the train to collect fares. Therefore passenger figures show that the train is not being used therefore no further carriages are required.

Public transport services north are poor. Train is the only link to Arnside, and connecting buses there. It is a nonsense that trains stopping at Arnside do not stop at Silverdale, and frustrating to have to meet visitors from north and south at other stations because their train does not stop here. Have been amazed at the occasions when fares have not been collected when doing short journeys.

I feel that the train is a very important link for our village to the rest of the country. However with fewer trains stopping at Silverdale sometimes I have to drive to Carnforth for a link to Mainline trains.