Burscough Curves

[Buttsy]

Apologies if this has been covered before on here, but I couldn't find anything obvious when searching.

Having looked at this, I can see a number of benefits if both curves were re-instated and at least the southern curve electrified. (If the new Merseyrail stock is dual voltage, then this would be on an overhead basis).

The obvious benefits are:

1. Through services from Preston to Southport;
2. Additional services to Southport from Liverpool;
3. Easier travel from Ormskirk to Southport;
4. Only Merseyrail to serve New Lane, Bescar Lane and Meols Cop therefore speeding up Southport - Manchester services;
5. Easier connections from Southport and Ormskirk lines to the North via Preston.

The current line from Rufford to Burscough Junction could be removed and re-used between from where the curves diverge to go to Burscough Bridge and the bridge removed, aiding electrication from Manchester.

While the journey time between Preston and Southport is likely to be longer than Preston - Ormskirk, if this were to be electrified as well, then an hourly service could be possble using one EMU or half-hourly using 2.

The Ormskirk line beyond Ormskirk would probably not justify a service greater than half-hourly, which would probably mean that you would only need two additional EMUs for this service.

Thoughts?

 

[pablo]

The various "stakeholders" have their time cut out just talking about schemes to improve the present day service. No time for reviving a Victorian railway.

 

[tbtc]

If we can't do something "simple" (like electrify from Ormskirk to Preston) then everything else is just fantasy, I'm afraid.

 

[MK Tom]

Wouldn't Liverpool to Southport via Ormskirk be a lot slower than the current direct route?

I'll be doing the Ormskirk line on Saturday, on a Blackpool-Liverpool ticket. I've checked and it is a permitted route, but I'm still worried about the guard on the Preston-Ormskirk train accepting it.

I love Merseyrail but I do believe the setups at Ormskirk and Kirkby, and the closure of Exchange station, were very short-sighted in removing a lot of direct routes and services.

 

[northwichcat]

Wouldn't Liverpool to Southport via Ormskirk be a lot slower than the current direct route?

I don't know. I think it's similar to saying would Chester-Runcorn-Liverpool be slower than Chester-Birkenhead-Liverpool. The answer is yes if both services were express or all/most stops. However, if the longer route gets an express service and the slower one gets a stopper then which would be quicker?

 

[Aldaniti]

The various "stakeholders" have their time cut out just talking about schemes to improve the present day service. No time for reviving a Victorian railway.

Spot on. The various 'stakeholders' have been talking about this for the past thirty-odd years. The money spent on feasibility studies and local politicians shooting the breeze, over the years, would probably by now have paid for this project several times over.

 

[Ploughman]

As a through route for end to end passengers it may be slower than the direct route.
However is there a demand for Ormskirk - Southport or other intermediate stations.
Then the route could come into its own.

 

[Chapeltom]

Wouldn't Liverpool to Southport via Ormskirk be a lot slower than the current direct route?

I'll be doing the Ormskirk line on Saturday, on a Blackpool-Liverpool ticket. I've checked and it is a permitted route, but I'm still worried about the guard on the Preston-Ormskirk train accepting it.

I love Merseyrail but I do believe the setups at Ormskirk and Kirkby, and the closure of Exchange station, were very short-sighted in removing a lot of direct routes and services.

I don't see how that route would be an issue. You could go via Wigan or go via Ormskirk.

 

[Eagle]

I'll be doing the Ormskirk line on Saturday, on a Blackpool-Liverpool ticket. I've checked and it is a permitted route, but I'm still worried about the guard on the Preston-Ormskirk train accepting it.

It's the shortest route, so no worries at all.