Liverpool Lime St remodelling

[Geeves]

There are a few things that the Merseyrail ticket offices cannot do. Collection of tickets bought online being one. I wonder if other TOC only tickets is another?

 

[QueensCurve]

Yes I can see how annoying it must be. I'm sure there would be a demand from South Parkway to have some sort of Euston service.

Hartford. too.

When I lived in the area an early Liverpool to Euston service used to all at Hartford with usually a 06:53 departure. A fine service of the erstwhile British Rail Breakfast on board too. There was a balancing service in the evening.

 

[QueensCurve]

Totally.
Using Liverpool South Parkway to replace Runcorn as the London train suburb stop would not only provide better rail and airport connections but it would dovetail well with the downgrading of the 1961 Runcorn-Widnes road bridge when the new road bridge ("The Mersey Gateway") opens.

Perhaps there will be more demand for Runcorn to Liverpool when there are tolls on the road bridge?

 

[Up_Tilt_390]

I don't think it'd be that practical to have London trains stop at South Parkway. Not only because of the difficulty in extending the platforms, but what will it add that the alternatives couldn't in order to justify the work and cost?

Although here's an interesting note, I was watching a video on YouTube and found that the announcements at London Euston referred to the station by it's old name "Allerton" rather than Liverpool South Parkway. It's not like Anne saying "Liverpool South Parkway" isn't available, so I find this very bizarre.

 

[Ianno87]

Hartford. too.

When I lived in the area an early Liverpool to Euston service used to all at Hartford with usually a 06:53 departure. A fine service of the erstwhile British Rail Breakfast on board too. There was a balancing service in the evening.

Looking at NRE, the first Southbound departure isn't until 0701 from Hartford! (Euston at 0941 with 40-odd minutes at Crewe). Does strike me as missing a potential market!

An early VT stop before 0701 wouldn't necessarily be a bad idea...

 

[QueensCurve]

Looking at NRE, the first Southbound departure isn't until 0701 from Hartford! (Euston at 0941 with 40-odd minutes at Crewe). Does strike me as missing a potential market!

An early VT stop before 0701 wouldn't necessarily be a bad idea...

Indeed, but the Breakfast would not be a patch on the one you used to get from British Rail - fresh food cooked on the train served by silver service on a linen tablecloth. :cry:

 

[Holly]

Looking at NRE, the first Southbound departure isn't until 0701 from Hartford! (Euston at 0941 with 40-odd minutes at Crewe). Does strike me as missing a potential market!
An early VT stop before 0701 wouldn't necessarily be a bad idea...

Well it would be if there were a sufficient amount of parking at Hartford Station. Which there isn't.
As a practical matter folks drive to Crewe and park there nowadays.

In the same way people who presently drive to Runcorn station from South Liverpool will switch to Warrington when the 1961 Mersey bridge is both tolled and fewer carriageways with less convenient exit ramp in the near future.

The North Cheshire / Mid Cheshire area certainly needs a parkway station with good service access to the WCML for London, but this need has existed for a very long time and isn't on anyone's plans.

 

[DJH1971]

In the same way people who presently drive to Runcorn station from South Liverpool will switch to Warrington when the 1961 Mersey bridge is both tolled and fewer carriageways with less convenient exit ramp in the near future

That's what I have done for booking a Virgin service to London from Warrington Bank Quay in early December, instead of Runcorn as a matter of principle.

 

[8A Rail]

.................
In the same way people who presently drive to Runcorn station from South Liverpool will switch to Warrington when the 1961 Mersey bridge is both tolled and fewer carriageways with less convenient exit ramp in the near future. ......

I would not bank on that to be honest. You seen traffic getting in and out of Warrington especially at Peak Hours, probably not! People who live say St Helens have better choice for WCML trains either going from Wigan NW, Warrington BQ and Runcorn.

People in South Liverpool will either go to Lime St or catch a Birmingham train to either Runcorn or Crewe and change at one of those stations (as some already do), or still drive to Runcorn. When the Silver Jubilee Bridge reopens in over 12 mths time, it will be single carriageway that is true but there will be considerably less traffic using it as most will be just "local" traffic so access will not be an issue.

 

[fowler9]

At some point humanity is going to have to curtail its crazy commuting habits. If that is by force or by choice remains to be seen.

 

[DJH1971]

Perhaps there will be more demand for Runcorn to Liverpool when there are tolls on the road bridge?

Or people choosing to go Warrington Bank Quay instead.

 

[Bevan Price]

Perhaps there will be more demand for Runcorn to Liverpool when there are tolls on the road bridge?

Not if they have to pay to use the Virgin car park at Runcorn..

 

[8A Rail]

Not if they have to pay to use the Virgin car park at Runcorn..

Some people don't as they clearly park on some of the local roads instead. Going to Warrington Bank Quay, there is considerable less chance of finding a free space.

 

[PR1Berske]

At some point humanity is going to have to curtail its crazy commuting habits. If that is by force or by choice remains to be seen.

There will always be offices, 9-5s, and the rush hour.

 

[johnmoly]

There are a few things that the Merseyrail ticket offices cannot do. Collection of tickets bought online being one. I wonder if other TOC only tickets is another?

Strange that as years ago while walking through Moorfields station I'm sure I saw a poster stating that a ticket to anywhere on the national rail system can be bought at any Merseyrail station ticket office. Perhaps they changed their minds.

 

[LDECRexile]

That's what I have done for booking a Virgin service to London from Warrington Bank Quay in early December, instead of Runcorn as a matter of principle.

What principle is that?

 

[Nean]

Strange that as years ago while walking through Moorfields station I'm sure I saw a poster stating that a ticket to anywhere on the national rail system can be bought at any Merseyrail station ticket office. Perhaps they changed their minds.

It can be bought, just not collected... really quite annoying as when I last tried to collect on the TVM at Hunts Cross it had a "collect" button which then just displayed a screen telling me to go to a different station!

 

[Holly]

At some point humanity is going to have to curtail its crazy commuting habits. If that is by force or by choice remains to be seen.

For quite a number of working people in the North Cheshire (including Widnes) and Mid-Cheshire areas a question is -
Q: How early can I get into London for a business meeting without losing a night's sleep, staying in a London hotel or setting the alarm for earlier than (for example) 4:30am?
And the answer is - either rise earlier or arrive later than was possible in the past. It has not been one change, it has been progressively poorer over the years.
Even driving to Crewe gives a later arrival into Euston than it used to.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

The operation at Liverpool South Parkway seemed to be working OK around mid-day today.
There are only 5tph using the upper level platforms.
VT uses P4 (but departs northwards before reversing back through P3, must seem very odd to departing passengers).
LMx2 arrive P2 and then reverse to depart P3.
TP/EM arrive P2 and reverse to depart P1.

Merseyrail very busy, as you would expect, using P5 and 6-car sets.
Liverpool Central very crowded, best to use the extreme ends.
Hunts Cross and CLC locals have the worst deal, with hourly buses the only connection offered westwards.
Plenty of mystified people at Moorfields wondering why Ormskirk/Kirkby trains are terminating there (but disappear towards Central to reverse).

Plenty of staff on hand at Parkway to help, queuing arrangements in place.
Euston queue being held on the bridge until the train was ready.
Retail shops doing a roaring trade, for a change.
Cavernous Parkway is really coming into its own at times like this.
Allerton depot full of 319s not going anywhere.
Will be harder on the strike days though.

 

[DJH1971]

What principle is that?

Never had to pay to cross the Runcorn bridge before, so why now especially as the new bridge over the Forth in Scotland is totally free.

 

[Polarbear]

Never had to pay to cross the Runcorn bridge before, so why now especially as the new bridge over the Forth in Scotland is totally free.

New tolls come into effect once the new bridge is opened. They'll also apply to the existing bridge once that's refurbished.

 

[Bevan Price]

New tolls come into effect once the new bridge is opened. They'll also apply to the existing bridge once that's refurbished.

And beware. There is a £40 ripoff (sorry, penalty) if you haven't paid before midnight on the day after you cross the bridge.

 

[DJH1971]

And beware. There is a £40 ripoff (sorry, penalty) if you haven't paid before midnight on the day after you cross the bridge.

The people of Warrington are about to see the traffic situation get a whole lot worse.

 

[fowler9]

I think the various bodies involved have done an amazing job at keeping things moving. As someone who lives near Parkway I reckon it could have been a hell of a lot worse.

 

[childwallblues]

There are a few things that the Merseyrail ticket offices cannot do. Collection of tickets bought online being one. I wonder if other TOC only tickets is another?

There is a ticket collection machine at Liverpool South Parkway which is a Merseyrail station. Granted it is owned by Northern Rail.

 

[childwallblues]

For quite a number of working people in the North Cheshire (including Widnes) and Mid-Cheshire areas a question is -
Q: How early can I get into London for a business meeting without losing a night's sleep, staying in a London hotel or setting the alarm for earlier than (for example) 4:30am?
And the answer is - either rise earlier or arrive later than was possible in the past. It has not been one change, it has been progressively poorer over the years.
Even driving to Crewe gives a later arrival into Euston than it used to.

Now that the rebuilding of the platforms at Hartford has been completed I note that the lengths have been re-instated to take far more than just a four car 350. Any reason for this?

 

[Nean]

There is a ticket collection machine at Liverpool South Parkway which is a Merseyrail station. Granted it is owned by Northern Rail.

I sincerely hope that they've installed more than the 1 that was there last time I went to pick tickets up...

 

[Bletchleyite]

Now that the rebuilding of the platforms at Hartford has been completed I note that the lengths have been re-instated to take far more than just a four car 350. Any reason for this?

"Son of LM" may well extend trains when it gets more stock.

 

[fowler9]

The operation at Liverpool South Parkway seemed to be working OK around mid-day today.
There are only 5tph using the upper level platforms.
VT uses P4 (but departs northwards before reversing back through P3, must seem very odd to departing passengers).
LMx2 arrive P2 and then reverse to depart P3.
TP/EM arrive P2 and reverse to depart P1.

Merseyrail very busy, as you would expect, using P5 and 6-car sets.
Liverpool Central very crowded, best to use the extreme ends.
Hunts Cross and CLC locals have the worst deal, with hourly buses the only connection offered westwards.
Plenty of mystified people at Moorfields wondering why Ormskirk/Kirkby trains are terminating there (but disappear towards Central to reverse).

Plenty of staff on hand at Parkway to help, queuing arrangements in place.
Euston queue being held on the bridge until the train was ready.
Retail shops doing a roaring trade, for a change.
Cavernous Parkway is really coming into its own at times like this.
Allerton depot full of 319s not going anywhere.
Will be harder on the strike days though.

At West Allerton today we have had buses every 30 minutes even during the strike.

 

[DJH1971]

Any pictures of the progress at Lime Street since the closure?