It is the Northern that carries on to Crewe. So its splitting it forcing a change from the Styal lines to Crewe if the LNWR service is taking its path from the airport. If its an extra on top then it makes no difference.
Thanks for clarifying my confusion. Surely then the thing to do is to make the Manchester to Crewe via the Styal Line a shuttle service from Manchester Piccadilly to Manchester Airport that will stop at the intermediate railway stations of Mauldeth Road, Burnage, East Didsbury, Gatley and Heald Green. The Manchester to Crewe service via Stockport will remain unchanged.
Think the concern is that for passengers on the line heading south (to London, Wales etc) they will now have to go up to Manchester Piccadilly and down again increasing pressure at Manchester Piccadilly. The Crewe service may not be the most used but does take passengers off the Manchester leg and reduce pressure on CrossCountry and Avanti from there.
Without checking, I doubt there is a massive time difference from Heald Green northwards to going via Picc. The displaced numbers wouldn't cause even a ripple at Picc.
The fact that a Class 153 single unit was the chosen one to use on such a service speaks volumes.
Tbh having lived on the airport line, and knowing a fair few people who use the train from there (except Heald green) - travelling south via Wilmslow isn't usually the choice. The southbound stopper arrives just after the London train leaves; and Northbound although its better timed, theres the large dwell time at the airport. With the reverse in play for the other distance train to Wales where its reasonable southbound but not North.
Have you ever seen the vast acreage of land you need to sell simply to afford a day's parking there?!
Well, noting the average number of car parking spaces regularly filled on a daily basis, I would well imagine that your expressed view above would require most of the land area of Britain needing to be sold, in answer to your query.
Is there a huge demand between Holyhead or Pwllheli and Birmingham Airport? It's a different era now, Manchester Airport is much busier. I'm more puzzled at the number of people who seem to somehow be against the plans tbh.
A single 153 was the unit of choice for services from Stoke-on-Trent to points East for a number of years, it was often full and standing - the choice of unit does not necessarily demonstrate the level of demand; look at Cross Country!
I've never paid more than a tenner a day to park there - certainly for a week or so long holiday, it can be comparable or more favourable in cost to a taxi or train fare.
That reply says much about how the passengers were viewed by the operating company...
I'd say yes. From experience Shrewsbury/stoke/London all seem decently popular destinations and west mids in general sees a decent amount of passenger flow. I also know a large portion of them travel XC/Avanti from Piccadilly. There I think is certainly demand for a second service southbound, even just to time better for connections at Crewe.
With regards to Shrewsbury, there are already existing rail services to and from Manchester Piccadilly, via Stockport, Wilmslow and Crewe, on the Marches Line.
That's as maybe. Why travel into Manchester Picc (and maybe have to fight your way onto an airport train on Platform 13) with a time penalty into the bargain when there could easily be another direct train from Crewe - or even an extra connecting service from Wilmslow?
I know. But as it stands, Piccadilly is currently the best place I change for this service. With better connections to Crewe/Wilmslow, it opens the possibility for people to change there as opposed to going the wrong direction towards Piccadilly in order to change. It will be a simple way to reduce journey times at the same time as reduce overcrowding at Piccadilly and on services in and out of Piccadilly. This will also free up vital capacity on routes like XC
www.railforums.co.uk
Imagine how many more this may be if there wasn't the scary words of "replacement bus service" when people go to buy the tickets.
Sorry just picked this thread up. When the Airport south link was opened there was a second hourly service to Crewe. This was an extension of the East Midlands Crewe to Nottingham service with a single stop at Wilmslow and also provided a direct connection from Stoke on Trent to the airport.
I would expect that to happen in the Ardwick blockade in February.
I used the service twice and on both occasions it was 90% full from the Airport and luggage space was a problem. I think the load depended entirely on the timing - with peak loads depending on popular aircraft arrival times. From my recollection most of the passengers from the airport were travelling to Stoke and Rugby.
Sorry for Rugby I meant Derby.
Definitely 350111 last night. Definitely had Crewe train crew on board, not sure if it was an LNR driver being route conducted or not.