So are local stations between stalybridge and Huddersfield. However they're only served by TPE. And what will it matter in a couple years anyway once GBR comes to fruition.
They're direct train currently stops in the airport for a bout 15 minutes. It's a lot quicker to alight there then change onto the xx.04 tpe service to reach Manchester
Northern won't be running to Crewe though so P1 will be free. Or that's my understanding of what will be happening.
Will they not still be using it for the Crewe via Stockport however? Without massively changing the timetable for the Stockport train, it's going to have to sit in Crewe for around fifty minutes as it arrives at xx.58 and leaves Crewe at xx.46
I hope there will be good fares from East Didsbury and Burnage to London via Crewe.
There is an EMU stabling siding at Crewe.
This has been confirmed internally this last week.
What reason could network rail have for wanting the service delayed untill may?
No idea. Unless there are other changes being made and NR want to limit the amount of change in December or they want to launch the Tame Bridge extension first to check issues with timings/reliability etc.
That seems like good planning for an all stations stopping service from Brum to the Manchester conurbation get the Brum to Crewe bit working properly then extend it into the Airport when you know you’re not importing delays. There’s enough moaning on here about importing delays across the network without adding fuel to the fire. It also gives TfGM, Cheshire East and Northern a bit of time to work out what should the Mcr - Crewe service, either via the airport or not, look like.
Which is fine, given that was the service prior to what we have now with no reliability issues. But obviously timings for other services may have shifted since then so I guess we shall see.
I imagine this is probably the case as I don't see lnwr calling at all the local stops along the line, nor would doing so be potentially beneficial anyway. But then this leaves Alderly edge, Holmes chapel and Sandbach down a train which I imagine wouldn't be particularly popular.
Who else then has requested it?
Why would it not stop at local stations, it will.
Even if the replacement rail service from the West Midlands calls at the existing stops, it is not intended to extend it to Central Manchester, so the service frequency to the primary destination from these stations, which is Central Manchester, would be reduced.
Agreed - but the time penalty of going via the Airport adds almost as long as waiting for the next service (even south of Alderley), and connecting at Wilmslow gets you to Central Manchester faster than staying via the Airport would. With pathing constraints between Alderley and Crewe there clearly isn’t a perfect solution, but it seems hard to argue these changes as a major reduction in connectivity imo (as someone who semi-regularly uses the line)
Depending on exactly what path it takes will impact whether it is able to call at those stops without impacting the Avanti/TFW. Plus surely there becomes a point where there's too many stops an it slows the service massively. Though admittedly it doesn't cause the existing airport to Liverpool service to be unpopular.
Goostry and chelford certainly will be skipped as per the existing service.
In my experience, outside of maybe the morning peak, it feels like most people on that train are traveling to/from the airport. The turnover is significant, especially on the northbound, the train can be practically empty after arriving at the airport.
Maybe anyone heading for Manchester would have changed for the Scotland TPE which gets into Piccadilly 9 minutes earlier than staying on the train.
Undoubtedly some, along with the fact it's the easiest way from a lot of Cheshire east towards Preston and beyond. However, it feels like the vast majority don't change. It's still 5 minutes quicker to change at Wilmslow onto the TFW if you only want to get to Piccadilly
No, its one service at 05.39 from International to Manchester and one in the other direction on a Saturday at 20.11.