Could Bury Interchange close?

[Jorge Da Silva]

If (it’s a big if) the Bury to Bolton line, Bury to Rochdale and Bury Wells to Rawtenstall lines reopened under Metrolink could Bury Interchange close in favour of Bolton Street. All of these have been awarded funding from the Restoring Your Railway fund towards feasibility study.

 

[A0]

If (it’s a big if) the Bury to Bolton line, Bury to Rochdale and Bury Wells to Rawtenstall lines reopened under Metrolink could Bury Interchange close in favour of Bolton Street. All of these have been awarded funding from the Restoring Your Railway fund towards feasibility study.

The fact they've been awarded funding under RYR means nothing. And how this would work alongside the ELR which is a major tourist attraction is probably the biggest blocker.

Frankly this is another 'barking at the moon' idea.

And, no I don't think Bury Interchange would close, not least due to the fact there is sufficient traffic to retain a dedicated Bury - Manchester link.

 

[HST43257]

How about this:

ELR keeps Rawtenstall

Metrolink builds curve, enabling services to avoid Bury Interchange (as it is now) in order to head towards Rochdale.

Bury Interchange Metrolink station relocated onto one end of the curve, connecting to buses via a well signed path.

 

[Grimsby town]

It won't close no. I spent a year of my life looking into modernising it so its fair to say there are no plans to close it. There was talk of a Rawtenstall to Victoria train at one point but TfGM never seem too keen on backing or developing the idea and instead focus on schemes from Bury to other areas of Greater Manchester.

 

[javelin]

Bury Interchange (the bus and Metrolink stop) is due to be redeveloped, and received funding to start that work in the budget. No indications though that the plan is to re-site it.

 

[A0]

Metrolink builds curve, enabling services to avoid Bury Interchange (as it is now) in order to head towards Rochdale.

Bury Interchange Metrolink station relocated onto one end of the curve, connecting to buses via a well signed path.

Achieving what exactly?

Bury already has a good link to Manchester as has Rochdale.

All you'd be doing is putting in a link between Bury and Rochdale with no clear evidence there is the demand for that.

 

[Ianno87]

The fact they've been awarded funding under RYR means nothing. And how this would work alongside the ELR which is a major tourist attraction is probably the biggest blocker.

Frankly this is another 'barking at the moon' idea.

Things, how much value does the Heywood-Bury part of the railway actually contribute to most passengers? Hardly the prettiest bit. I do realise that the route is valuable as a main line connection, and enthusiasts like the Ski jump and the chug up Broadfield Bank.

Could a genuinely innovative solution be applied: Operates as a tram line during the day, with the power switched off for low speed stock transfers at night - a "Paisley Canal" style solution.

And, no I don't think Bury Interchange would close, not least due to the fact there is sufficient traffic to retain a dedicated Bury - Manchester link.

There seems to be a bit of scrubland to north east side of the Metrolink/ELR intersection bridge, which would be space for a tight tram curve into the existing platforms from the Heywood direction.

 

[Bletchleyite]

The ELR have a safety case for running under Metrolink wires - they provide traction for Metrolink engineering trains. Most notably there have been occasions when, due to a failure, a steam locomotive has been provided, there are videos knocking about somewhere of this.

 

[A0]

Things, how much value does the Heywood-Bury part of the railway actually contribute to most passengers? Hardly the prettiest bit. I do realise that the route is valuable as a main line connection, and enthusiasts like the Ski jump and the chug up Broadfield Bank.

Could a genuinely innovative solution be applied: Operates as a tram line during the day, with the power switched off for low speed stock transfers at night - a "Paisley Canal" style solution.




There seems to be a bit of scrubland to north east side of the Metrolink/ELR intersection bridge, which would be space for a tight tram curve into the existing platforms from the Heywood direction.

Still doesn't answer the question about what running Metrolink between Bury and Rochdale achieves. Heywood station is a distance outside the town centre - if you were wanting to put Heywood on the Metrolink map, it would be better done by on street running.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 29 Oct 2021 ==

The ELR have a safety case for running under Metrolink wires - they provide traction for Metrolink engineering trains. Most notably there have been occasions when, due to a failure, a steam locomotive has been provided, there are videos knocking about somewhere of this.

A safety case for occasional engineering works is not the same as for regular, daily passemger services.

 

[Bletchleyite]

A safety case for occasional engineering works is not the same as for regular, daily passemger services.

It's not, but that it is allowed at all clearly demonstrates that it can be allowed, and would thus be a matter of appropriate training etc and obtaining that certificate.

Turning the wires off wouldn't be an option as once the copper thieves got to know that it'd all disappear one Saturday evening.

 

[A0]

It's not, but that it is allowed at all clearly demonstrates that it can be allowed, and would thus be a matter of appropriate training etc and obtaining that certificate.

Turning the wires off wouldn't be an option as once the copper thieves got to know that it'd all disappear one Saturday evening.

I'm sure it's not as simple as you claim. But there are people around here who will be able to confirm one way or another.