Mid-Cheshire line
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The Mid-Cheshire line is a railway line in the north-west of England that runs from
History
Altrincham to Chester
The Mid-Cheshire line has its origins in railways promoted by three separate railway companies in the 19th century. The
The junction with the Sandbach branch became a triangular junction in 1957, with the addition of the single-line connection from Sandbach towards Chester.[2]
Before the
The route was double track between Chester and Altrincham, although the section between Mickle Trafford and Mouldsworth was reduced to single track after Chester Northgate station closed in 1969. For many years the line had the reputation of being one of the busiest double-track routes in the UK.
Manchester to Altrincham
CLC trains from Manchester to Chester departed from Manchester Central and joined the MSJ&A tracks at Old Trafford, sharing the MSJ&A line as far as Altrincham. These trains usually ran "express", some non-stop, others calling only at
The
1990 saw further changes as Mid-Cheshire line trains were diverted via Stockport in preparation for conversion of the Sale route to Metrolink. The electrification system between Manchester and Altrincham was changed for the second time, to 750 V DC, and the electric trains replaced by trams. The journey time by tram to Altrincham was 27 minutes and the faster diesel service (the Mid-Cheshire line trains) ceased as these trains were diverted via Stockport with considerably extended journey times. The journey time by train from Manchester to Hale, for example, doubled from 17 to 34 minutes. Manchester Metrolink trams now exclusively use the trackbed between Deansgate Junction (between Navigation Road and Timperley) and Manchester.
Present route
The line serves many small, rural settlements in Cheshire before reaching Chester. Services follow the
As part of the (then) new Northern franchise, which commenced in April 2016, the new operator Arriva was required to run the existing service, as well as an additional service every hour on weekdays and Saturdays between Greenbank and Manchester. One service was required by the terms of the invitation to tender to run semi-fast and must call at Stockport, Altrincham, Knutsford and Northwich only, between Greenbank and Manchester in both directions. The announcement of Arriva as the franchise winner in December 2015 indicated that the future operator has gained agreement for the additional service to call at Hale although this was not specified in the invitation to tender. Services on Sunday from Chester to Manchester were planned to become every hour in each direction.[3]
The franchise agreement also required the removal and replacement of all Pacer trains by 2019.[4] However it was not until 2020 that all class 142 were retired.[5][6]
Current services
Monday to Friday[7]
Manchester to Chester: 18 trains per day
Stockport to Chester: 2 trains per day
Chester to Manchester: 18 trains per day
Chester to Stockport: 2 trains per day
Saturday
Manchester to Chester: 18 trains per day
Chester to Manchester: 18 trains per day
Sunday[8]
Chester to Manchester: 7 trains
Manchester to Chester: 7 trains
The above shows a cutback in the number of peak services to and from Manchester, which started in December 2008 and prompted an online petition.[9] It also included the loss of a daily direct service to Blackpool from Northwich and the loss of a limited stop afternoon train from Chester to Manchester, as well as improvements made to the Sunday service, which was previously a 3 hourly Chester to Altrincham service. Due to growing numbers of passengers, the new Northern franchise planned to include increased services.
Passenger numbers for the Mid-Cheshire line show that the station on the line with the highest number of people boarding and alighting Manchester to Chester via Altrincham services is
Passenger services in the off-peak period are better utilised than passenger services on similar lines, with Altrincham being in the top 10 busiest Greater Manchester stations (excluding Central Manchester stations) for the morning off-peak period; Hale and Altrincham also both perform well in the morning peak period.[10]
Future services
The following are proposals for future services to the line.
Additional services between Chester and Stockport
As part of Northern Trains' proposed December 2022 timetable (which focused on additional services within the Manchester area), an additional 4 trains per day between Chester and Stockport (2 in each direction) were proposed during peak hours on Mondays to Saturdays. These services were aimed at those who are commuting to and/or working in Manchester and Stockport. This change would have increase the number of trains departing Chester on the line to 20 per day, with the number departing Stockport also increased to 20 per day. The 2 hourly Sunday service would have remained the same, at 7 trains per day.[11][12]
Reopening the Northwich to Sandbach line to passenger trains
This would allow a direct train service from stations along the line to access Crewe, without the need to change at Chester, which will should reduce journey times to destinations south of Chester, as well as reducing fares to those destinations. It would also allow the former station at Middlewich to re-open, and the possibility of a new station opening at Rudheath. An independent feasibility report found the Benefit to Cost Ratio for the reopening to be 5:1,[13] which is almost four times higher than the recently reopened Borders railway in Scotland.[14]
Manchester Airport western link
Proposals for a link to Manchester Airport from near Mobberley were first put forward in the 1990s, though little progress was made. However, in March 2009 it was mentioned in a Network Rail document as a possible project in the future,[15] although reopening the Northwich to Sandbach line to regular passenger services was not mentioned in that document. The link to Manchester Airport railway station would be a 3.5 mile new railway, starting north of Mobberley railway station and continuing under the airport campus in tunnel, before making an end-on junction with the southernmost platforms of the existing airport station, which was designed with this extension in mind.
As well as providing links from mid-Cheshire and Chester to Manchester Airport, the new line would enable services from North Wales, Liverpool and the Wirral to reach the airport by shorter routes than today. The route from Chester and North Wales, in particular, would cut off more than 20 miles from today's route via Warrington and Manchester.
Manchester Piccadilly via Styal Line
Additionally, by running services from Cheshire through the airport, these could hypothetically continue through to Manchester Piccadilly via the
Running tram-trains directly to Manchester
The possibility of running tram-trains between Greenbank or Knutsford and central Manchester has been examined.[17][18] However, it was decided in 2013 that the use of tram-trains alongside existing heavy rail passenger and freight services would provide poor value for money and alternative heavy rail options should be examined instead.[18]
Electrification
In March 2015, the Electrification Task Force said that the Mid-Cheshire line was a tier 1 priority for being electrified in the CP6 period (2019-2024).[19][20]
New station at Cheadle
Stockport Council has proposed a new single-platform station at Cheadle, to be supported by the Towns Fund.[21]
Motive power and rolling stock
History
The CLC owned its own coaching stock but no locomotives (apart from four Sentinel steam railmotors). From the start of operations, motive power was provided by the MSLR and later the GCR, although locomotives and stock from the other CLC constituent companies could also be seen. This gave the Mid-Cheshire line a very "cosmopolitan" feel until well into the 1960s when older locomotives were replaced by British Railways (BR) standard designs.
Early passenger services were handled by MSLR/GCR class 12A (LNER class E3) 2-4-0 locomotives designed by
The route was a very busy freight artery – especially the section between Greenbank and Deansgate Junction. The
The present
The line sees a mix of diesel traction. Many of the passenger trains used on this line are Class 150s and Class 156s.
In the past
Goods trains continue to use the line. The primary source of traffic for many years was limestone from quarries near
References
- ^ Ross, Andrew; Hindle, Chris (23 June 2014). "Mid Cheshire Rail Line – Growth Aspirations" (PDF). Cheshire East Council. Cheshire & Warrington Local Transport Body.
- ^ "Notes and News:New spur at Northwich". Railway Magazine. Vol. 103, no. 680. December 1957. p. 881.
- ^ "Northern Franchise Improvements". Archived from the original on 24 July 2019. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
- ^ "Northern rail Pacer removal: Old trains go up for sale | News and Star". 12 December 2019.
- ^ "Pacers to continue into 2020, operators confirm | Rail Business UK | Railway Gazette International".
- ^ "Late start for new trains puts 'Pacer' withdrawal months behind schedule – The Railway Magazine". 2 March 2019.
- ^ "Northern Mid Cheshire Line Timetable – December 2021" (PDF). Northern Rail. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
- ^ "Northern Mid Cheshire Line Timetable – December 2021" (PDF). Northern Rail. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
- ^ "Petition against local rail cutbacks".
- ^ "Basic guide to Greater Manchester railways". Transport for Greater Manchester Committee. Archived from the original on 10 September 2011. Retrieved 27 July 2011.
- ^ "Proposed northern December 2022 Mid Cheshire Line timetable" (PDF). Northern Rail. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
- ^ "Proposed northern December 2022 Mid Cheshire Line timetable" (PDF). Northern Rail. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
- ^ The Railway Consultancy Ltd. "Final Report July 2009" (PDF). Mid Cheshire Rail Users Association.
- ^ "Warning £350m rail link not economically viable". HeraldScotland. 2 March 2013. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
- ^ "Network Rail – resource not found" (PDF). networkrail.co.uk. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
- ^ "Timetable recast: too much, too quickly". Railway Gazette. 4 June 2018. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
- ^ Greater Manchester PTE (16 May 2007). "Extension of Metrolink to Northwich and Greenbank" (PDF). Mid Cheshire Rail Users Association.
- ^ a b "Transport For Greater Manchester Committee Report For Resolution" (PDF). 8 November 2013.
- ^ "Electrification Task Force Final Report Revealed". Rail North. 5 March 2015. Archived from the original on 14 June 2017.
- ^ "Chairmans Blog » Blog Archive » Mid Cheshire Line electrification! …". mcrua.org.uk. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
- ^ Tague, Neil (22 September 2020). "Railway connection key as Cheadle Towns Fund bid nears". Place North West.
- ^ "Freight Views – Manchester Locomotive Society". manlocosoc.co.uk. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
- ^ Plumley West 8A Rail (Freight Directory)
Sources
- Bolger, Paul (1984). An Illustrated History of the Cheshire Lines Committee. Heyday. ISBN 0-947562-00-1.
- Dyckhoff, Nigel (1984). The Cheshire Lines Committee Then and Now. Ian Allan. ISBN 0-7110-1410-8.
- Dyckhoff, Nigel (1999). Portrait of the Cheshire Lines Committee. Ian Allan. ISBN 0-7110-2521-5.
- Griffiths, R. Prys; Goode, C. Tony (1978). "The Cheshire Lines Railway". The Oakwood Press.
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(help) - Wilkinson, Alan. Scenes from the Past : 41 (Part 1) : Railways Across Mid-Cheshire. Foxline. ISBN 1-870119-66-5.