Cheadle station

[Rail Ranger]

The campaigning wheels are already in motion at Ashley and Plumley and have been for some time.

 

[davechis]

They've said that they are going to build the platform in such a way that it could be moved to accommodate the reinstatement of the second track.

That's interesting Rail Ranger do you have a source for that?

 

[Rail Quest]

I actually currently commute to Cheadle sometimes using the Mid Cheshire line so would be one of the people who'd benefit massively from a new station there, but doing this before any work is done on the surrounding infrastructure to support it is a massive red flag to me. If I remember correctly, the Nav Road to Stockport section was freight only for a while (is anyone able to confirm that?), presumably explaining the single track section. Not rectifying that bottleneck before placing a new station on top of it feels like it's asking for trouble. The Mid Cheshire line sees relatively good reliability compared to the surrounding lines but the single track bottlenecks, both there and at Nav Rd are what seem to cause the most issues.

If Network Rail are serious about doing anything with the Mid Cheshire Line then a new Cheadle station would be down my list of priorities. Doing the Mobberley-Airport connection would be my first port of call, then electrification. I’d convert the old Ashley-Stockport section to Metrolink.

I agree with this, with the slight amendment of turning Mobberly into a bit of a national rail/metrolink interchange. The journey times from the Northwich stations to Manchester are too long IMO already without the new Cheadle stop. Probably off topic I suppose. A new general thread about what should be done around the line is probably in order.

 

[Baxenden Bank]

I can't speak for @Rail Ranger but a link to a report on the consultation process, here: Stockport Metropilitan Borough Council states:

comments:
A desire for the proposals to be more ambitious (16 comments) in terms of passive provision for a second line / platform and encouraging active travel

report response:
The scope of this project is to allow for passenger services to stop on the Mid-Cheshire line at Cheadle under the current service pattern, which is just one train per hour. Work is ongoing outside of this project to look at the future demand and capacity along this line. The project will not prohibit the introduction of a second line and platform in future if they are required.

 

[Rail Ranger]

Thanks Baxenden. AI says "The platform for the new Cheadle railway station is being designed so that it can be "trimmed back" or adjusted to safeguard the space should a double track ever be reinstated along that section of the line".

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Today at 15:42 ==

I actually currently commute to Cheadle sometimes using the Mid Cheshire line so would be one of the people who'd benefit massively from a new station there, but doing this before any work is done on the surrounding infrastructure to support it is a massive red flag to me. If I remember correctly, the Nav Road to Stockport section was freight only for a while (is anyone able to confirm that?), presumably explaining the single track section. Not rectifying that bottleneck before placing a new station on top of it feels like it's asking for trouble. The Mid Cheshire line sees relatively good reliability compared to the surrounding lines but the single track bottlenecks, both there and at Nav Rd are what seem to cause the most issues.


I agree with this, with the slight amendment of turning Mobberly into a bit of a national rail/metrolink interchange. The journey times from the Northwich stations to Manchester are too long IMO already without the new Cheadle stop. Probably off topic I suppose. A new general thread about what should be done around the line is probably in order.

Yes Deansgate Junction to Edgeley Junction, Stockport was freight only until the Mid Cheshire Line service was diverted that way in May 1989. Previously the service ran via Sale to Manchester Oxford Road. Sharston Junction to Cheadle Village Junction (through Cheadle) was singled in the early 1970s so that two new underbridges for the new motorway (then the M63) would only have to accommodate a single line.

 

[Baxenden Bank]

Thanks Baxenden. AI says "The platform for the new Cheadle railway station is being designed so that it can be "trimmed back" or adjusted to safeguard the space should a double track ever be reinstated along that section of the line".

AI says whatever! Does it have reliable sources?

The officer report here into the planning application (granted) states:

The proposed single platform to serve the proposed railway station would be sited on the Northern side of the existing Chester to Manchester railway line, would consist of a modular platform design of lightweight construction and would include covered waiting shelters for passengers.

The drawings accompanying the planning application show a bolted together system under the brand 'Systra', drawing here.

If the links don't work, the planning reference to enter on the Stockport planning portal is: DC_084801

 

[davechis]

Thanks for the responses. Wonder how they intend to trim back the platform, not heard of that engineering technique before!

 

[Rail Ranger]

I've read many times that the station is being built in such a way that the platform can be moved northwards to allow space for double track and a second platform. That would tally with "a modular platform design of lightweight construction" mentioned above.

 

[The exile]

Thanks for the responses. Wonder how they intend to trim back the platform, not heard of that engineering technique before!

Without having seen the site, the “obvious” solution is to build a permanent platform (with all fixtures, fittings and associated services) to serve the currently non-existent second track then “bolt” some pre-fab modular platform in front of it, that is robust enough to be a permanent solution, but which can be removed without having to do anything to the “real” platform other than install new tactiles and paint a new yellow line.

 

[The Pelican]

East Didsbury looks like it's a couple of miles north of Cheadle, and will probably get a Metrolink extension to Stockport soon.

 

[Baxenden Bank]

There is no way that the platform can be 'trimmed back' to accommodate the second track, should it be re-instated. It sits fairly and squarely on the formation where the second track would go. Drawing 084801-GENERAL_ARRANGEMENT_PLAN-2189036 refers.

To re-instate a second track would require unbolting of this platform, it's movement north off the formation on the north side and the construction of a second, new, platform on the south side to serve the current track. Such relocation would remove 32 of the proposed car parking spaces (just under half).

Some might suggest that the platform should be built on the south side of the current line from the outset, but then it would be on the wrong side for the proposed car park. Alternatively the track could be slewed to the northern side and the platform built there in a final, two-track railway location.

The Design and Access Statement part of the planning Application states:

7.2.2 The form of the platform, a modular construction, is the most advantageous as it offers the fastest construction minimising disruption to the public and limited number of possessions. In addition, it can potentially be reused and easily modified and as such is future proofed for dualling.

 

[Rail Ranger]

Double track through Cheadle would be required if the proposed Stockport to Manchester Airport tram-train via Cheadle ever happens. There would be a curve onto the Metrolink line to Manchester Airport where this line crosses the Mid Cheshire Line in the Baguley area.

 

[Farigiraf]

1tph is a poor service, I agree, but I don't think it's a reason not to build the station.

If the station is a success at 1tph - which I think it will be - then that strengthens the argument for 2tph, which will benefit Hale, Altrincham etc. as well. It's not either/or.

That's assuming it would actually make 2tph more likely, and not instead slightly mess up the timetable and make the chances of 2tph to the rest of the line even slimmer. Your viewpoint is one I'd support if the winds (of rail investment) were blowing in that direction, but there just aren't such guarantees so it's risky. @Baxenden Bank's scenario aligns more with what I'd expect.

Building Cheadle station is a bit of a gamble, as to get a train station with 1tph in a suburb with potentially high commuter traffic (which also has a bus to Stockport every 10-15 mins, so not exactly a transport desert just a bit slow) you either win big (well-used station + future Northwich/Knutsford/Middlewich upgrades) or lose big (underperforming station due to low frequency, Ashley and Plumley become mostly useless stations, unreliable timetable, even smaller chances of the rest of the line getting an upgrade).

The Stoke NT services are comparable in current (and potential future) busyness to the Mid-Cheshire line - you have the overperforming Bramhall as you stated, but also Congleton and Poynton - and also requires £tens of millions to up in frequency, yet there's no plan to improve the service. It can't even sustain a Sunday service! Does not give much hope for the Mid-Cheshire line.

 

[Rail Ranger]

The bus service from Cheadle to Manchester is particularly poor, only every 30 minutes and finishing in mid-evening.

 

[Farigiraf]

The bus service from Cheadle to Manchester is particularly poor, only every 30 minutes and finishing in mid-evening.

With proper bus-rail integration you could cut about 20 mins off the journey time with a well-timed connection at Gatley or East Didsbury. Would require some fares integration as well, to not make it prohibitively expensive for a regular commute. Bus frequency increases are exactly the sort of thing that the Bee Network can sort out easily enough if there's enough demand for it. Few people live right in Cheadle town centre anyway so there's no guarantee it'd be that much more useful, particularly if you face a long wait for a train.

That's not to say the station shouldn't be built (one at Baguley makes sense too) but it does need to be clear what you may be sacrificing in order to implement it, with how the line is now. There isn't that much low-hanging fruit left on the Manchester potential transport improvements list but those that are left could do with the funding more than a station that will be pretty mediocre for about a decade and useful after that. That is unless it does end up functioning as a catalyst (and not a barrier) for future improvements in which case it's a great idea, but there's no way of knowing that beforehand.

Willenhall and Darlaston opened with an hourly service and are already getting two (poorly spaced) trains an hour from next year (no infrastructure work required though) so it's not unlikely, just not guaranteed either.

 

[Sir Felix Pole]

Double track through Cheadle would be required if the proposed Stockport to Manchester Airport tram-train via Cheadle ever happens. There would be a curve onto the Metrolink line to Manchester Airport where this line crosses the Mid Cheshire Line in the Baguley area.

You could also run tram trains on to Altrincham or even Knutsford with a DMU shuttle thence to Chester.

Is there absolutely no capacity to run stone trains to Northwich onwards from New Mills via Guide Bridge, Stockport, Sandbach (rev) and Middlewich? The Drax trains have a limited life snyway. Removing freight would eliminate the Navigation Road bottleneck as well.

 

[Rail Ranger]

Stone trains to Northwich finished a while ago but there is still plenty of freight through Altrincham. It is effectively a Manchester avoiding line for freight due to the lack of spare paths through Piccadilly and Victoria.

 

[martin2345uk]

Stone trains to Northwich finished a while ago but there is still plenty of freight through Altrincham. It is effectively a Manchester avoiding line for freight due to the lack of spare paths through Piccadilly and Victoria.

What happened to the stone trains?? Only asking as I used to drive them in my trainee days at Guide Bridge!