Salford Central expansion

[Philip]

Do you think the Liverpool line platforms should be reopened at Salford Central, to create a small hub with new connections available? The proposed London-Man Vic LNW could stop here, along with the Northern Chester service and finally a TPE to Liverpool. If one of the Blackpool to Man Airport services and the Southport to Oxford Rd were both diverted to Victoria, stopping at Salford Central, this would take some pressure off Castlefield, as well as providing easier connections towards Liverpool, Warrington, Chester, Crewe & London, compared with going into Oxford Rd/Piccadilly. It's more or less a city centre station and is conveniently located for the Spinningfields area of Manchester.

What are your thoughts?

 

[Bevan Price]

On a point of accuracy - there were never platforms at Salford Central for the Liverpool (Chat Moss) route - there were 4 platforms (fast & slow lines) for the ex L&YR routes to Bolton & Wigan.

But yes, reopening the platfoms for the realigned connection to the (ex LNWR) Liverpool route would be a good idea. In fact, the platforms still exist - it is just that, with increased amounts of ballast, the track level has been raised by several feet such that the old platforms are now unusable - so the platorm height needs to be increased to match the new track level.

One snag is that most of the "stopping" services on the Chat Moss route now run to Piccadilly and Manchester Airport, with only a few (mostly peak) services serving Manchester Victoria. It would only be worthwhile having stops at Salford Central if the "Chat Moss" stopping services were increased back to (at least) hourly thoughout the day.

I feel it is unlikely that the "express" (currently Trans Pennine) would be likely to want an additional stop at Salford Central.

 

[The Planner]

Man Vic is going to struggle to fit loads of extra trains, that is why the turnbacks are being built and whatever TRU throws at it.

 

[Topological]

Yes

There should be a service from somewhere in the North East of Manchester (likely Rochdale) to somewhere in South Manchester (likely Airport) serving Salford Central, Deansgate, Oxford Road, Piccadilly... This should run as often as possible.

The lack of paths mean that something would have to give. This would also only work when Oxford Road is finished and the freight terminal situation is resolved. Finaly, it would need electrification from Victoria to Rochdale.

As part of the introduction of the new "metro" service, stops would be removed from other airport trains and other trains heading out to the North East, but not to generate faster journeys but to ensure space for passengers travelling further.

Staylybridge could substitute for Rochdale, but in my mind the Rochdale corridor would offer more regeneration opportunities from regular rail service.

 

[Philip]

Could some services turn back at Salford Central, to save space at Victoria? If this is possible, it'd make sense to at least terminate a Wigan stopper and perhaps one of the Blackpool services at Salford Central. It might only be small, but it is conveniently located for a well developed area of the city centre, more so than Piccadilly is.

If platforms could also be built on the Liverpool lines, with the subsequent service provision I suggested, it would make this a convenient station for the city centre, whilst also providing some good long distance connections (Liverpool, Crewe, London, Warrington, Chester, Leeds, York, NE) and taking some pressure off Castlefield & Victoria.

 

[Bletchleyite]

What is sometimes known as "Manc Bahn" in here would likely be made up of 4 Stalybridge to Airport serving Salford Central (or 2 Rochdale and 2 Staly), 2 Blackpool to Airport and 2 Liverpool to Airport via CLC, as evenly spaced as possible, through Castlefield, with everything else moving to Victoria or being lopped and running into the main train shed instead. Everything would run with 3 or 6 car 195/331 formations.

This would be punctual and reliable (or as much as feasible) and would make decent use of the Chord. It would also mean the turn back at Oxford Road being spare for turning short if needed.

However, there would be a lot of objections to it, I suspect.

I was however surprised at the Chat Moss stopper being moved to Castlefield - given that this had previously been a Vic service for years it probably wasn't necessary to do so.

 

[Shaw S Hunter]

Could some services turn back at Salford Central, to save space at Victoria? If this is possible, it'd make sense to at least terminate a Wigan stopper and perhaps one of the Blackpool services at Salford Central. It might only be small, but it is conveniently located for a well developed area of the city centre, more so than Piccadilly is.

If platforms could also be built on the Liverpool lines, with the subsequent service provision I suggested, it would make this a convenient station for the city centre, whilst also providing some good long distance connections (Liverpool, Crewe, London, Warrington, Chester, Leeds, York, NE) and taking some pressure off Castlefield & Victoria.

No it would not. What would be the benefit to passengers in travelling so far only to be turfed off short of where the majority are trying to go? If you want to pull stunts like that might as well turn them back at Bolton and save a diagram or two. /scratches head in bemusement.

 

[Philip]

No it would not. What would be the benefit to passengers in travelling so far only to be turfed off short of where the majority are trying to go? If you want to pull stunts like that might as well turn them back at Bolton and save a diagram or two. /scratches head in bemusement.

Salford Central is more convenient for visiting the centre of Manchester than Piccadilly is, and only marginally less so than Victoria, Deansgate & Oxford Road.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

What is sometimes known as "Manc Bahn" in here

It just isn't though, is it