Crewe to Alsager single line section

[thenorthern]

Would the principle purpose of Northern and ATW routing ECS via Alsager also be for route knowledge. I have previously noted TPE routing a regular ECS via Rochdale and could only come to the conclusion it was for this purpose.

With the Northern Rail I think its because of capacity issues between Stoke-on-Trent and Cheadle Hulme Junction as there is nowhere for the faster trains to pass where as going through Crewe there is spare capacity.

I am unsure why Arriva Trains Wales ECS moves travel that way as they make a rather strange move of going into Platform 3 at Stoke-on-Trent then reversing out to reach Manchester. It may as you say be route knowledge retention for ECS moves for when night closures take place at Wilmslow.

 

[PHILIPE]

With the Northern Rail I think its because of capacity issues between Stoke-on-Trent and Cheadle Hulme Junction as there is nowhere for the faster trains to pass where as going through Crewe there is spare capacity.

I am unsure why Arriva Trains Wales ECS moves travel that way as they make a rather strange move of going into Platform 3 at Stoke-on-Trent then reversing out to reach Manchester. It may as you say be route knowledge retention for ECS moves for when night closures take place at Wilmslow.

The ATW ECS is for routé retention, although I haven't come across any diversions over this route for some considerable time. If Wilmslow route closed, they usually go via Warrington Bank Quay and Chat Moss.

 

[paulb1973]

IIRC during the Crewe remodelling, there was a curve from the Stoke line to the WCML and this was removed.

If more trains were to run via Stoke, then the line could be doubled from Bartholmley Junction to Crewe South Junction, otherwise I can't see it happening.

I think that line was called the North Staffordshire curve and was closed by October 1984, just prior to the remodelling. It linked the Stoke line with Basford Hall yard presumably and was electrified in c.1962.

 

[thenorthern]

The ATW ECS is for routé retention, although I haven't come across any diversions over this route for some considerable time. If Wilmslow route closed, they usually go via Warrington Bank Quay and Chat Moss.

I have noticed the Arriva Trains Wales ECS moves via Alsager in the small hours alternate each day so one day its a move to Crewe C.S. from Manchester at the end of the day while the next day is a move from Crewe C.S. to Manchester both of which reverse in Platform 3 at Stoke. I think this is because that way drivers have route retention for ECS moves when Night Closures happen.

With the single line section though I reckon its likely it will get re-doubled once any operator express an interest in more or new services along the line.

 

[Whistler40145]

How are Freightliners accessing the Stoke line from Basford Hall Yard during the Stafford blockade?

 

[craigybagel]

I have noticed the Arriva Trains Wales ECS moves via Alsager in the small hours alternate each day so one day its a move to Crewe C.S. from Manchester at the end of the day while the next day is a move from Crewe C.S. to Manchester both of which reverse in Platform 3 at Stoke. I think this is because that way drivers have route retention for ECS moves when Night Closures happen.

The ATW ECS is for routé retention, although I haven't come across any diversions over this route for some considerable time. If Wilmslow route closed, they usually go via Warrington Bank Quay and Chat Moss.

I am unsure why Arriva Trains Wales ECS moves travel that way as they make a rather strange move of going into Platform 3 at Stoke-on-Trent then reversing out to reach Manchester. It may as you say be route knowledge retention for ECS moves for when night closures take place at Wilmslow.

Every so often the line through Wilmslow gets blocked every night Monday-Thursday over the course of a week. When it happens, the 22:36 Manchester Piccadilly - Shrewsbury runs via Stoke. Warrington is used much less frequently, its a lot more awkward to use because of it having to run through platform 13 (although the 2236 did go that way last Thursday, as all 3 other routes were blocked by an incident at Slade Lane).

To keep train crew competent, there is an ECS run through Alsager twice a week each direction (on the other days of the week the services run via the other diversionary routes, via Styal or Warrington). The ECS runs can reverse at Kidsgrove using the ground position light on the Up line just south of the junction, but if the service is carrying passengers it must run into Stoke on Trent station.

 

[The Planner]

How are Freightliners accessing the Stoke line from Basford Hall Yard during the Stafford blockade?

Running round in the station on the down side I suspect.

 

[craigybagel]

Running round in the station on the down side I suspect.

Very handy that unlike the other 3 branches, you can access the Stoke line from any platform!

 

[PHILIPE]

I can recall a few years ago, South Wales to Manchester trains being diverted via Stoke on a Sunday on occasions. In fact, they were booked that way for a dated portion of the Timetable.

 

[PHILIPE]

Route used by ATW this evening. Due points failure Cheadle Hulme, 19 30 Manchester Picc to Carmarthen diverted via Stoke before terminating Crewe due late running. A couple of trains earlier went via the Styal.

 

[craigybagel]

Route used by ATW this evening. Due points failure Cheadle Hulme, 19 30 Manchester Picc to Carmarthen diverted via Stoke before terminating Crewe due late running. A couple of trains earlier went via the Styal.

Looks like the points failed (for the 3rd time!) after that service passed Slade Lane - not that it would have made a difference as the 1930 is a Shrewsbury driver and they don't sign either Stoke or Styal. They had to swap drivers with the next inbound Manchester service.

 

[DarloRich]

How are Freightliners accessing the Stoke line from Basford Hall Yard during the Stafford blockade?

they were either top and tailed or they ran round in the station area.

Don't fall into the "just in case" trap, how often does this level of diversion happen? Not often and never enough to justify the expense. Posters could come up with a 500 page list of nice to haves and "if we had that then this event wouldn't have happened" etc. Like I posted earlier, if the line suddenly required 7 or 8tph all day every day then yes you could have a case, otherwise no.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ this! Nice to haves are things that cant be afforded. Must haves will be hard enough in the new financial climate.

If they put the new Crewe station at Basford Hall then the existing line is in the wrong place anyway and there have already been fag packet drawings of diverting it.

Do you think this new station plan will ever come to fruition? is it suggested there be and HS2/real train interchange?

 

[craigybagel]

1J76 22:36 Manchester Piccadilly - Shrewsbury is running via Stoke on Trent Monday to Thursday this week, although for some reason it's not showing in the national rail journey planner....

 

[louis97]

1J76 22:36 Manchester Piccadilly - Shrewsbury is running via Stoke on Trent Monday to Thursday this week, although for some reason it's not showing in the national rail journey planner....

Because its not a public stop at Stoke-on-Trent.

 

[craigybagel]

Because its not a public stop at Stoke-on-Trent.

I'm aware of that - my point was that at the time of posting national rail were still showing it as calling at Wilmslow. They've fixed it now though.

 

[doningtonphil]

According to Real Time Trains this section of track is currently used for WCML diversions today, taking 11 coach Pendos as well as the regular services via Alsager must be a fun exercise.

I tell you where I wouldn't want to be working today and that is the LNWR/Arriva Traincare site off Weston Road, which has to cross this section of track for access (i think) If you time your run wrong you can be sat at the crossing for an age and that's on a good day with the hourly 153s.