Ardwick station's rickety footbridge

[Gathursty]

Hello.

I was in Manchester last month and thought I'd wander over to look at Ardwick as it's rarely used yet in a very built up area. Going on to the platform requires using a footbridge which seemed to be a bit wobbly. It wasn't windy and I'm not large.

Has anyone been there recently? Is the footbridge still wobbly and rusting away?

 

[Crimson_Quiff]

I'm not surprised the footbridge is wobbly! Rusting away over the years.

Does the station still get served by trains?

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Yes... otherwise it wouldn't be open as in accessable

3tpd each way I think, all to/from the Glossop branch

 

[Lampshade]

Does the station still get served by trains?

Hmm, 3tpd towards Manchester, 2tpd towards Rose Hill/Marple.

 

[Crimson_Quiff]

Yes... otherwise it wouldn't be open as in accessable

3tpd each way I think, all to/from the Glossop branch

True! Ta

 

[MidnightFlyer]

True! Ta

Better taken from the local Lampshade above - 3tpd to Manchester Pic only, and 2tpd towards Rose Hill

 

[Crimson_Quiff]

Better taken from the local Lampshade above - 3tpd to Manchester Pic only, and 2tpd towards Rose Hill

Ah right!

 

[MidnightFlyer]

ARDWICK STATION TIMETABLE:
MONDAYS-FRIDAYS:
NORTHBOUND:
0735 (0736 from October) to Manchester Pic (from Hadfield via Glossop)
0822 to Manchester Pic (from Marple via Bredbury)
0854 to Manchester Pic (from Rose Hill via Bredbury)

SOUTHBOUND:
1707 to Marple via Bredbury (from Manchester Pic)
1809 to Rose Hill via Hyde Central (from Manchester Pic)

NO SERVICES ON SATURDAY OR SUNDAY

 

[trickyvegas]

I've used the 18.09 a couple of times when I used to work at Universal Square, not recommended when you have to run for the train. Also the only station that I've defied the smoking ban too.

 

[Crimson_Quiff]

Well, it seems to get served more times than Reddish South and Denton!

 

[Lampshade]

Well, it seems to get served more times than Reddish South and Denton!

The figures for Ardwick have doubled in the last few years which makes it hard to justify any reduction in service. Reddish South and Denton have been pretty much constant for years and so it's hard to justify any increase in service - when figures were increasing Northern retimed it so it's on a Friday morning in the peak as opposed to a Saturday afternoon.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Hello.

I was in Manchester last month and thought I'd wander over to look at Ardwick as it's rarely used yet in a very built up area. Going on to the platform requires using a footbridge which seemed to be a bit wobbly. It wasn't windy and I'm not large.

Has anyone been there recently? Is the footbridge still wobbly and rusting away?

As the station is managed by Northern Rail, you should contact them with your worries concerning the footbridge. There were tentative proposals to close this station some years ago, but as the station is situated within the East Manchester Regeneration area, it was granted a reprieve. Annual passenger loadings have grown every year since 2004 (285) until 2010 (754).

 

[tbtc]

Annual passenger loadings have grown every year since 2004 (285) until 2010 (754)

So around fifteen passengers a week?

Or three per week day?

Or basically one per train?

Waste of resources on the busy line into Piccadilly?

 

[Lampshade]

Waste of resources on the busy line into Piccadilly?

Not really, most services on that line are held at Ardwick waiting for a platform anyway, stopping there doesn't really make much difference.

 

[Invincibles]

Slightly off topic on Manchester regeneration would it be possible to squeeze a station in around Ashton New Road. Be very convenient for SportCity and the whole area if they were looking to travel beyond Manchester itself.

I would look at routing some of the Hadfield/Glossop trains through there (possibly adding a platform face at Ashburys) into Victoria and then on to Liverpool/Wigan as stopping trains. This would have the advantage of pushing services through Victoria, but would also need electrification of the short "gap"

Longer term I would like them to open the curve round past Ardwick station to bring stoppers through Victoria and into Piccadilly, thinking particularly of the Blackburn train, but also bringing the Preston stopper and Southport train through there instead of Oxford Road and Deansgate. Terminal platforms would be provided with the diversion of Hadfield and TransPennine trains that are using Victoria as part of the Northern Hub.

When the land around Ardwick is developed there will be chance to stop the New Mills trains there and offer a service for those people into Piccadilly if it is needed (less TPEs to be in the way of)

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

On a similar matter, the viaduct is still in place (minus a road bridge) where the line branched off at Ardwick, heading northwards to Baguley Fold junction, but it currently has what appears to be a linear forest growing on it at present. I do not know how strong the structural stability would be, as it is very many years since trains from Manchester Piccadilly took that route, but whilst somewhat convoluted, would offer another route to Manchester Victoria.

 

[trickyvegas]

On a similar matter, the viaduct is still in place (minus a road bridge) where the line branched off at Ardwick, heading northwards to Baguley Fold junction, but it currently has what appears to be a linear forest growing on it at present. I do not know how strong the structural stability would be, as it is very many years since trains from Manchester Piccadilly took that route, but whilst somewhat convoluted, would offer another route to Manchester Victoria.

I would imagine it is still sound structurally as there are a few business using the arches underneath. If you follow the route using google maps it seems the route of the old loop it seems to be clear of development all the way to the old site of Miles Platting station. It would also run close to the City of Manchester stadium. I had suggested in a previous thread that it may be worth seeing if Man City would interested in making a conrtibution towards it's reinstatement in return for a rail halt.

 

[The Snap]

Invincibles, Paul Sidorczuk and trickeyvegas,

Although this idea has some merit because it would provide access from both Piccadilly and Victoria to Eastlands and the Beswick area, the chances of it happening as absolutely zero (I would suggest).

Why? Because the new East Manchester extension of Metrolink is routed directly through this exact area and provides links to both Piccadilly and Victoria from SportCity. The requirement for a train service would be minimal because of the frequency of trams from the city centre to the Stadium etc (every 6 minutes at peak).

 

[Nym]

So thats why it's explicitly mentioned in the Northern Hub reports as an interchange station then?

Not with the re-opening of the Ardwick Curve, but as part of the Manchester East - Victoria link project via Eastlands to have a station at the Stadium on Ashton Old Road.

 

[Invincibles]

I agree that the market for trains into Victoria and Piccadilly is limited because of the tram, however I imagine there is some need for trains to the East and that there could also be a through market to Salford and Liverpool which going by train would help to serve.

Really it is the potential to get large numbers of people in for the football that is of most interest to me, would stop a few problems at Piccadilly if certain trains could be extended there. Mauldeth Road to the new station would have a lot of patronage I think.

Possibly there would be funding as part of the regeneration as well, that is not something I am knowledgeable on.

 

[trickyvegas]

In response to Rich, I see your point regarding the metrolink. However, Old Trafford (albeit a much bigger stadium) is effectively served by two Metrolink lines as well as a rail halt. The benefit of restoring the curve, which has already been raised would be to route traffic from Piccadilly through Victoria instead of Oxford Rd, but the idea of offering a facility to Manchester City would be a way of getting some private funding for the whole project from someone who has plenty of cash to splash.

 

[185]

Back on topic, I'm sure Ardwick International's footbridge will cope fine when Eurostar starts calling

Depressingly, I can see Ardwick Junction & WCML out of my front window

 

[PinzaC55]

I would expect the footbridge to be inspected regularly by Network Rail engineers and any defects reported. If it wasn't and it collapsed, InjuryLawyers4U would take NR to the cleaners.

 

[The Snap]

So thats why it's explicitly mentioned in the Northern Hub reports as an interchange station then?

Not with the re-opening of the Ardwick Curve, but as part of the Manchester East - Victoria link project via Eastlands to have a station at the Stadium on Ashton Old Road.

I wasn't aware of that, so I'll back down slightly . However, what's to stop people changing for the Metrolink at Piccadilly or Victoria and leaving the services from further afield there?

Plus, a station on Ashton Old Road within walking distance of the Stadium already exists...Ashburys. To build another would surely be pretty pointless?

I agree that the market for trains into Victoria and Piccadilly is limited because of the tram, however I imagine there is some need for trains to the East and that there could also be a through market to Salford and Liverpool which going by train would help to serve.

Really it is the potential to get large numbers of people in for the football that is of most interest to me, would stop a few problems at Piccadilly if certain trains could be extended there. Mauldeth Road to the new station would have a lot of patronage I think.

Possibly there would be funding as part of the regeneration as well, that is not something I am knowledgeable on.

I can see now that a station near the Stadium has potential. I suppose the more transport available to fans on match day, the better . Although, again, don't forget Ashburys station is less than a 10 minute walk from Eastlands...

In response to Rich, I see your point regarding the metrolink. However, Old Trafford (albeit a much bigger stadium) is effectively served by two Metrolink lines as well as a rail halt. The benefit of restoring the curve, which has already been raised would be to route traffic from Piccadilly through Victoria instead of Oxford Rd, but the idea of offering a facility to Manchester City would be a way of getting some private funding for the whole project from someone who has plenty of cash to splash.

That's another good point which didn't cross my mind (then again, anything to do with that stadium and that team very rarely crosses my mind ). As I said before, Ashburys station is used quite heavily by City fans on match days as far as I'm aware. Is there any need for another mainline station AND the new Metrolink stops (note I say stops, as there are three within a 5 minute walk of the stadium!).

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Back on topic, I'm sure Ardwick International's footbridge will cope fine when Eurostar starts calling

Depressingly, I can see Ardwick Junction & WCML out of my front window

Some people would claim you are fortunate to have a view of such historical railway infrastructure. I was even thinking of making Ardwick a six-platform interchange, after your first comment, as shown below:-

Two platforms to serve the existing line to Ashburys.

Two platforms (newly built) to serve the new junction line via Baguley Fold Junction to Manchester Victoria.

Two platforms (of the correct HS2 length specification) to serve Eurostar and any other such European rail service.

The name for the new station complex....Manchester Ardwick Hacienda Interchange....with suitably long station name boards.

The existing footbridge will be purchased by the Tate Gallery as an example of Railway Installation art, with help from the Getty foundation and the Rowntree Trust, and the funding for the new station will come out of these funds.

Sorry, I will have to go now. The nurse has just come with my anti-hallucination pills and a bottle of bromide.

 

[lancastrian]

Some people would claim you are fortunate to have a view of such historical railway infrastructure. I was even thinking of making Ardwick a six-platform interchange, after your first comment, as shown below:-

Two platforms to serve the existing line to Ashburys.

Two platforms (newly built) to serve the new junction line via Baguley Fold Junction to Manchester Victoria.

Two platforms (of the correct HS2 length specification) to serve Eurostar and any other such European rail service.

The name for the new station complex....Manchester Ardwick Hacienda Interchange....with suitably long station name boards.

The existing footbridge will be purchased by the Tate Gallery as an example of Railway Installation art, with help from the Getty foundation and the Rowntree Trust, and the funding for the new station will come out of these funds.

Sorry, I will have to go now. The nurse has just come with my anti-hallucination pills and a bottle of bromide.

Be very careful Paul, such thought provoking ideas like these are likely to be in the next series of Party Manifesto's. It is so brilliant, that I have to applaud you for a fantastic concept.