Path from Walton to Rice Lane (Merseyrail)

[Gathursty]

A page to discuss the possibility of connecting Rice Lane with Walton without needing to walk North, East then South to join a station only a few metres away at the most.

Also an option to combine stations as a four platform station like Cheadle Hulme, Virginia Water etc...

Yes there's probably a small number who connect but those who do regularly probably use or work in Fazakerly Hospital so saving a walk in both directions would be rather good especially for those of impaired mobility.

I think this is simple in terms of cost and possession time but no doubt consultants and others would spout figures as ridiculous as £1,000,000 or more for what is clearing an embankment and putting a tarmac path in with a bit of fencing.

 

[Starmill]

Have you seen the recently added path at Retford which connects from near the main entrance to the low level platforms? I don't have any pictures immediately to hand but it may be something like that that you're thinking of? There's also the link footway between Hackney Central and Hackney Downs, which is more weatherproof than at Retford.

 

[Gathursty]

Have you seen the recently added path at Retford which connects from near the main entrance to the low level platforms? I don't have any pictures immediately to hand but it may be something like that that you're thinking of? There's also the link footway between Hackney Central and Hackney Downs, which is more weatherproof than at Retford.

Retford - How recent do you mean? I remember using one some years ago but I know recently it's been spruced up with lifts for the Northern platforms.

Hackney - isn't that an above ground walkway?

I'm think more like Retford but the footpath distance would only be a fraction.

 

[Gloster]

If a new path connecting Rice Lane and Walton was provided, would it have to be disability compliant? And would the two stations then also have to be upgraded?

 

[Starmill]

Retford - How recent do you mean? I remember using one some years ago but I know recently it's been spruced up with lifts for the Northern platforms.

Hackney - isn't that an above ground walkway?

I'm think more like Retford but the footpath distance would only be a fraction.

It's only from very recently at Retford. It was done in connection with the new lift to platform 3, which you mention. It's a substantial job, the old access via the ramp end of platform 1 is now closed.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 19 Mar 2022 ==

If a new path connecting Rice Lane and Walton was provided, would it have to be disability compliant? And would the two stations then also have to be upgraded?

Providing step free access is probably a key reason for doing the work, yes. Just one of the stations could also be made step free.

 

[kermit]

This thread prompted me to look at maps / photos of Rice Lane and Walton; although I can't link to it (it's on "Pinterest"), there appears to be at least one old photo of Rice Lane showing such a path in existence - so the question is, when did it close, and why?

 

[S&CLER]

Back in the 1970s the MALTS study recommended that both Walton and Rice Lane be closed and replaced by a new station to be called Breeze Hill in the Kirkdale no. 1 tunnels with platforms back to back, one in each double-track tunnel, with lifts to a surface building. This would have served visitors to Walton Hospital and also provided interchange with bus routes along Queen's Drive, as well as cross-platform interchange between the Ormskirk and Kirkby routes. Nothing ever came of it. See Maund, Merseyrail Electrics, p. 30.

 

[MattRat]

Isn't the solution just to get off at Kirkdale instead?

 

[Gathursty]

Isn't the solution just to get off at Kirkdale instead?

That is the current solution but my proposed path is 100m long.

 

[High Dyke]

If a new path connecting Rice Lane and Walton was provided, would it have to be disability compliant? And would the two stations then also have to be upgraded?

Most likely. For a walk of about 400metres, perhaps the cost / benefit ratio would have a bearing on provision.

 

[MattRat]

That is the current solution but my proposed path is 100m long.

I personally don't have a problem with it, but I doubt it will get backing if another 'solution' exists. God forbid we spend money on infrastructure......

 

[Dr Hoo]

Perhaps I'm missing something but can @Gathursty explain how, in one of the two directions, people would avoid having to negotiate footbridges and have a (shorter) walk between the stations to get on the right platform(s)? Whereas Kirkdale is just one bridge, which has lifts.

A map or sketch would be really useful.

 

[30907]

I walked from Walton to Rice Lane a few years back, presumably because it saved me 15 min on the connection in that direction; it was tight but doable in the 6min allowed in the pre-Covid timetable.
(It would have saved nothing in the other direction.)
The present walk is straightforward with no main road to cross, though there are flights of steps in that direction (2 in the other).
I wonder if a zig-zag step-free route from the road to the Kirkby platform at R.L. would be a better use of money?

Edit: a quick check on the NLS website confirms that there was a footpath at one time - looks to have been fairly steep at the platform end.
https://maps.nls.uk/view/126522149

 

[WAO]

There certainly was a direct path of sorts between Preston Road and Walton Junction stations because I walked it - can even remember the day - 1/1 1970!

It has probably lapsed with more fencing and security. A four platform junction station would be nice but the layout might be difficult. At least Walton Junction's L&Y ticket office is still there although the box has gone.

The Breeze Hill station proposal was an expensive nonsense that diverted attention from the need to get more conductor rail down.

WAO

 

[507020]

There is already step free access to the Liverpool platform at Walton. Reopening the original path from there to the Kirkby, soon to be Headbolt Lane platform at Rice Lane would render that step free without requiring lifts and also allow passengers from Liverpool to arrive there. While they’re at it, removing the fence into the McDonald’s car park adjacent to Rice Lane station would make the Liverpool platform there step free, making all journeys from both stations accessible except those to Ormskirk. As a worst case scenario could they use the lifts at Kirkdale or Orrell Park?

 

[Gathursty]

I appreciate saying that Kirkdale is only a short distance and is already the solution.

I forgot there is an entrance to Rice Lane nearer to Walton than I thought. I thought it was just the side near McDonald's where access was granted.

That would bring the current distance to within a fair margin of my proposed path so I think I might take back my proposal unless someone has something I've not noticed.

 

[8A Rail]

Isn't the solution just to get off at Kirkdale instead?

Just use Sandhills (also has access to Southport trains), dont even need to change platforms either.

Two solutions already and we have not spent a penny!

 

[507020]

I appreciate saying that Kirkdale is only a short distance and is already the solution.

I forgot there is an entrance to Rice Lane nearer to Walton than I thought. I thought it was just the side near McDonald's where access was granted.

That would bring the current distance to within a fair margin of my proposed path so I think I might take back my proposal unless someone has something I've not noticed.

Orrell Park is another solution which is closer to Walton and Rice Lane than Kirkdale, which is the solution for Bank Hall but not journeys to Southport.

There is only a single entrance to Rice Lane, via steps. Walton has multiple entrances, one step free and the other down a narrow path on the other side, nowhere near Rice Lane. There is no access from the McDonald’s car park, but it should be a priority to provide this since it would be step free and also eliminate maintenance liability for the fence. There is also easily space to provide a ramp to the Kirkby/Headbolt Lane platform on the other side.

What you haven’t noticed is that reopening the path from the Liverpool platform at Walton and the Kirkby/Headbolt Lane platform at Rice Lane would provide a step free and also traffic free route, while the on street route provides no access to Rice Lane since the only access is via steps.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 22 Mar 2022 ==

Just use Sandhills (also has access to Southport trains), dont even need to change platforms either.

Two solutions already and we have not spent a penny!

Telling people with mobility issues that they need to travel much further to the next station to be allowed in isn’t exactly a good idea though is it.

 

[30907]

Telling people with mobility issues that they need to travel much further to the next station to be allowed in isn’t exactly a good idea though is it.

Telling people with mobility issues that they should change at the easiest point is perfectly sensible, though. Making the northbound platforms at both stations accessible is probably a greater priority than connecting them.

 

[MattRat]

Just use Sandhills (also has access to Southport trains), dont even need to change platforms either.

Two solutions already and we have not spent a penny!

My point was more what the average person would say. I'm always a fan of infrastructure projects, we need more in this country.

 

[507020]

Telling people with mobility issues that they should change at the easiest point is perfectly sensible, though. Making the northbound platforms at both stations accessible is probably a greater priority than connecting them.

Yes, but in many cases able bodied people are also required to change in the same place. Changing at Sandhills will be much better easier when it doesn’t involve 2 ramps.

The easiest, cheapest and safest way to make the *westbound* (not northbound - note the locations of Kirkby and Wigan) platform at Rice Lane accessible may well be to provide access via the southbound platform at Walton by reinstating the previous path, rather than providing a steep ramp directly from street level.