Manchester Exchange: A Missed Opportunity?

[snowball]

I have looked where the proposed HS2 line comes out of the tunnel in the Longsight area (and then tried to understand the reason given by the forum member) as to how how Manchester Exchange railway station could be easily rail-accessed from there

Without wishing to get involved in any arguments about the location of the HS2 station, I'll just point out that if it were to be anywhere other than Piccadilly, there would be no reason for the tunnel to follow its currently proposed alignment, or for its north portal to be at the currently proposed place.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Without wishing to get involved in any arguments about the location of the HS2 station, I'll just point out that if it were to be anywhere other than Piccadilly, there would be no reason for the tunnel to follow its currently proposed alignment, or for its north portal to be at the currently proposed place.

I totally and utterly agree with what you say above. I was just wondering the route that the forum member had in mind in order to access the site of the former Manchester Exchange railway station.

 

[billio]

I didn't want to debate this on this forum, disussion should be on the HS2 sub-forum. I just wanted to make the point that the Exchange site could be used for HS2.

I don't understand why the HS2 line to Manchester approaches via Manchester Airport and ends up at Piccadilly. A different route would allow HS2 to use the Exchange site and depending on the route chosen may make possible a high speed line in the North between Liverpool and Manchester and then beyond into Yorkshire.

 

[edwin_m]

Well as far as it's relevant to Manchester Exchange I think it's worth continuing here.

The proposed HS2 route in tunnel to Ardwick was basically chosen because they decided that Piccadilly was the best terminus site. That makes sense when you consider how many more rail or Metrolink connections can be made there than anywhere else (and even more under Northern Hub). There is also space available for the new station alongside the existing one.

If you look back through the documents on their website you will find a family of options that approached Manchester through Eccles. These would have linked to one of two shortlisted terminus sites west of Salford Central. These were discarded mainly on the grounds of poorer city centre access, no Metrolink and worse rail connections.

Without going back through the documents I can't remember if Exchange was considered too but it probably was. However there is no spare land here at ground level (or at least not enough to create platforms 400m long). The only option here would have been to deck over the site and put a new station above the existing tracks. As well as being very expensive this would have been visually obtrusive, overshadowing the centre of Salford even more than the existing viaduct does, especially as the approach tracks would have had to remain at a similar level over Salford Central before descending further west. With the possibility of linking to Victoria the rail and Metrolink connections would have been better than at Salford Central but still worse than Piccadilly.

 

[billio]

With regard to space at Exchange if you overlay the proposed space at Piccadilly on to the Exchange site, I think it would be possible to fit 400m platforms in. It would require some track realignment and extending the width of the current viaduct.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

With regard to space at Exchange if you overlay the proposed space at Piccadilly on to the Exchange site, I think it would be possible to fit 400m platforms in. It would require some track realignment and extending the width of the current viaduct.

But how would have this have impinged upon the land area of the Greengate Embankment Scheme with its two large office blocks and large car parking area on the site of Manchester Exchange railway station that was discussed in postings earlier on this thread ?

 

[Dunc108]

Well as far as it's relevant to Manchester Exchange I think it's worth continuing here.

The proposed HS2 route in tunnel to Ardwick was basically chosen because they decided that Piccadilly was the best terminus site. That makes sense when you consider how many more rail or Metrolink connections can be made there than anywhere else (and even more under Northern Hub). There is also space available for the new station alongside the existing one.

If you look back through the documents on their website you will find a family of options that approached Manchester through Eccles. These would have linked to one of two shortlisted terminus sites west of Salford Central. These were discarded mainly on the grounds of poorer city centre access, no Metrolink and worse rail connections.

Without going back through the documents I can't remember if Exchange was considered too but it probably was. However there is no spare land here at ground level (or at least not enough to create platforms 400m long). The only option here would have been to deck over the site and put a new station above the existing tracks. As well as being very expensive this would have been visually obtrusive, overshadowing the centre of Salford even more than the existing viaduct does, especially as the approach tracks would have had to remain at a similar level over Salford Central before descending further west. With the possibility of linking to Victoria the rail and Metrolink connections would have been better than at Salford Central but still worse than Piccadilly.

Are there any plans to expand Metrolink at Piccadilly as Victoria seems to be getting extra Metrolink platforms\tracks as part of its refurbishment which will certainly enhance its capacity for more Metrolink services, surely the Undercroft at Piccadilly has its limitations?

 

[Manchester77]

Are there any plans to expand Metrolink at Piccadilly as Victoria seems to be getting extra Metrolink platforms\tracks as part of its refurbishment which will certainly enhance its capacity for more Metrolink services, surely the Undercroft at Piccadilly has its limitations?

There are several proposals linked the HS2 redevelopment of the area which include platforms beneath the HS2 station or an expansion if the existing undercroft

 

[edwin_m]

With regard to space at Exchange if you overlay the proposed space at Piccadilly on to the Exchange site, I think it would be possible to fit 400m platforms in. It would require some track realignment and extending the width of the current viaduct.

Widening the viaduct probably wouldn't be acceptable as it's right in the centre of Salford. And even if the HS2 station was at existing rail level the HS2 tracks would still have to go up and over Salford Central to get out towards Eccles.

 

[HowardGWR]

Widening the viaduct probably wouldn't be acceptable as it's right in the centre of Salford. .

Now don't start that again! (Where is Salford thread).