Philip
On Moderation
Just wondering, would it make sense for Northern to run their Stoke service through to Birmingham, via Rugeley and Walsall?
With the potential for more 331s to be ordered further down the line, the Manchester-Stoke part could become 'semi-fast' (Stockport, Macclesfield, Congleton, Kidsgrove with the Macclesfield local picking up the other calls). Most services could then run doubled up as 6-car formations, providing a much-needed capacity boost and still with reasonably competitive journey times (and prices!) against the current CC route.
I'll add that FNW used to run a Manchester- Birmingham evening service in their day.
With the potential for more 331s to be ordered further down the line, the Manchester-Stoke part could become 'semi-fast' (Stockport, Macclesfield, Congleton, Kidsgrove with the Macclesfield local picking up the other calls). Most services could then run doubled up as 6-car formations, providing a much-needed capacity boost and still with reasonably competitive journey times (and prices!) against the current CC route.
I'll add that FNW used to run a Manchester- Birmingham evening service in their day.
