Reopening the Middlewich line for passenger service

[Philip]

Would it be worthwhile to reopen Middlewich Station and the line to passenger service, or is it likely to happen in the next few years?

The big focal point is Middlewich and I would think a service to Sandbach, Crewe and then onto Manchester, then towards Northwich and Chester in the other direction would see a fair amount of use. It doesn't seem a big job or too costly given the line is already open and most of the infrastructure in place.

 

[SargeNpton]

Middlewich land to be set aside for new station

Land for a new railway station in Cheshire is to be earmarked by a council following a campaign.

www.bbc.com

 

[Jorge Da Silva]

Would it be worthwhile to reopen Middlewich Station and the line to passenger service, or is it likely to happen in the next few years?

The big focal point is Middlewich and I would think a service to Sandbach, Crewe and then onto Manchester, then towards Northwich and Chester in the other direction would see a fair amount of use. It doesn't seem a big job or too costly given the line is already open and most of the infrastructure in place.

It depends on whether there is:

a) space at Crewe
B) the infrastructure is up to scratch

 

[4-SUB 4732]

The problem is that there is going to eventually be a half-hourly service from Manchester to Northwich, of which only one an hour will go to Chester. This means there would be capacity for an extension to Middlewich, Sandbach and the HS2 Crewe Hub in future but it would only run every hour! Controversially on this one I'd say a good-quality bus service operating Congleton - Holmes Chapel - Middlewich - Winsford - Northwich would actually do the trick. Cheap to operate, included in railway journey planners and therefore giving wide connectivity to Stoke, Derby, Macclesfield, Crewe, Manchester, Chester, Liverpool (etc.).

 

[SargeNpton]

The problem is that there is going to eventually be a half-hourly service from Manchester to Northwich, of which only one an hour will go to Chester. This means there would be capacity for an extension to Middlewich, Sandbach and the HS2 Crewe Hub in future but it would only run every hour! Controversially on this one I'd say a good-quality bus service operating Congleton - Holmes Chapel - Middlewich - Winsford - Northwich would actually do the trick. Cheap to operate, included in railway journey planners and therefore giving wide connectivity to Stoke, Derby, Macclesfield, Crewe, Manchester, Chester, Liverpool (etc.).

Until either the TOC or the bus company decides that they no longer wish to offer through fares due to a change of management policy.

 

[4-SUB 4732]

Until either the TOC or the bus company decides that they no longer wish to offer through fares due to a change of management policy.

You simply get it as part of Government contract.

 

[geoffk]

I read that the third platform at Northwich is too narrow and would not meet present-day requirements for a passenger service.

 

[30907]

This long-running thread has been dormant for over a year - how time flies! - but might provide some enlightenment.
https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...-services-on-the-middlewich-link-line.119280/

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Are the MCRUA (Mid Cheshire Rail Users Association) still actively campaigning for the reopening of Middlewich station?

 

[Llandudno]

I wonder if the promised two trains per hour from Northwich to Manchester will ever materialise owing to pathing constraints between Stockport and Piccadilly.
Can eastbound trains turn back at Altrincham, so offering a (Crewe-Middlewich) - Northwich- Altrincham hourly service with connections and through ticketing on Metrolink, may be quicker for passengers wanting central Manchester than Piccadilly via Stockport?

I also wonder if the Sunday Chester-Northwich-Manchester service will ever be improved beyond the current not fit for purpose two hourly frequency?

 

[jonnyfan]

I would like to see an hourly Crewe - Sandbach - Middlewich - Northwich - stations to Stockport - then onto Reddish South, Denton, Guide Bridge and Stalybridge.

Gives the core mid-Cheshire line two trains per hour, and a regular service on the Stockport to Stalybridge route. Paths sort of exist across Stockport, as they are used for the peak extras which come off the route via Denton.
Northwich would need sorting out though, the platforms are a bit of a mess, very low and the island platform (2&3) is quite narrow at the Manchester end - that would probably cost as much as a new station at Middlewich

And Crewe platform 1 would be a struggle with capacity.

But I don't think overall it would be totally impossible if the £££ was there.

 

[Greybeard33]

I wonder if the promised two trains per hour from Northwich to Manchester will ever materialise owing to pathing constraints between Stockport and Piccadilly.
Can eastbound trains turn back at Altrincham, so offering a (Crewe-Middlewich) - Northwich- Altrincham hourly service with connections and through ticketing on Metrolink, may be quicker for passengers wanting central Manchester than Piccadilly via Stockport?

I also wonder if the Sunday Chester-Northwich-Manchester service will ever be improved beyond the current not fit for purpose two hourly frequency?

Yes, eastbound trains can turn back at Altrincham. There is no turnback siding as such, but the Down (westbound) line is bi-directionally signalled between Altrincham and Navigation Road. This means that a terminating train can, if necessary, shunt ahead to stable on the Up line during its layover, and leave both tracks through the station clear for passing freights.

I believe the second hourly service between Piccadilly and Greenbank, promised in the Arriva franchise agreement, was canned because of pathing constraints between Stockport and Piccadilly (exacerbated by the performance risk of the multiple single line sections on the Mid Cheshire). Northern reportedly then proposed an hourly Altrincham - Chester service instead, but Network Rail vetoed this because of a perceived need to first upgrade several User Worked Crossings to current standards. I believe the same excuse was used for the failure to increase the Sunday frequency, although I suspect this may have been a smokescreen for Northern's driver shortage.

Since the OLR takeover of Northern, and the Covid cutbacks, increased frequency on the Mid Cheshire seems to have been kicked further into the long grass. The Dec 2020 timetable does not even restore the peak extras between Stockport and Chester (except for one needed for stock positioning).

I suspect a Crewe - Altrincham via Middlewich service might be difficult to path. With only one bay available at Crewe, it would have to fit in between the Northern Crewe - Piccadilly via Stockport and Crewe - Liverpool via Airport services, plus keep out of the way of the Avanti and TfW services between Crewe and Sandbach. And also avoid the freight paths over the single line sections either side of Middlewich....

It seems to me that a more realistic Speculative Idea for the Middlewich branch might be gauge clearance to W12 and electrification, thereby enabling container trains to bypass the congested two track Weaver Valley section of the WCML, through Winsford and Hartford. The gauge clearance and electrification would need to extend along the Mid Cheshire from Northwich West Jn through Greenbank to Hartford CLC Jn.

On a positive note, in November Network Rail replaced two decrepit underbridges on the Middlewich branch, thereby restoring full weight capability:

Important freight route secured by £4.5m Cheshire railway bridge upgrades

Freight services through Cheshire are now benefiting from a more reliable railway after work to replace two railway bridges.

www.silk1069.com

The railway was closed for five days so the bridges over the Trent and Mersey canal and Whatcroft Hall lane in Northwich could be rebuilt to modern standards.

An 800 tonne crane was used to lift the new structures into place.

This will secure the future of this important rail freight route which is used to supply vital construction materials across the country.

 

[HST43257]

I think using this line is an excellent idea. You can start with 1tph towards Crewe and 1tph towards Chester, meaning 2tph Manchester to Northwich. If this change increases demand and/or population in the area by a substantial amount then I’d suggest (in the long term) a doubling of frequencies (2tph to each of Crewe and Chester, with a total of 4tph as far as Northwich).

 

[Llandudno]

Referring to the possible revamp of Manchester area train services in 2022, the third option being considered Option C shows a rerouting of the TfW North Wales Coast to Manchester Piccadilly trains to run via Northwich instead of Warrington BQ.

This would of course give 2 trains per hour on this route, would this spell the end of the reopening of the Middlewich line to passenger services?

 

[Jack Hay]

Referring to the possible revamp of Manchester area train services in 2022, the third option being considered Option C shows a rerouting of the TfW North Wales Coast to Manchester Piccadilly trains to run via Northwich instead of Warrington BQ.

This would of course give 2 trains per hour on this route, would this spell the end of the reopening of the Middlewich line to passenger services?

Too soon to say! But I would add that the report looking at the Middlewich reopening (the business case) is with the DfT and has been for a good many months. I could understand why the DfT has not responded to it with all this Manchester planning going on. I believe MCRUA is still campaigning for this. Campaigners don't give up, especially not on the railway where everything seems to take forever.

 

[geoffk]

Referring to the possible revamp of Manchester area train services in 2022, the third option being considered Option C shows a rerouting of the TfW North Wales Coast to Manchester Piccadilly trains to run via Northwich instead of Warrington BQ.

This would of course give 2 trains per hour on this route, would this spell the end of the reopening of the Middlewich line to passenger services?

Any idea of likely timings from Chester to Manchester calling only at Greenbank, Northwich, Knutsford, Alty and Stockport? It doesn't sound like an attractive option for through passengers compared to the shorter and faster route via Warrington.

 

[The Planner]

Any idea of likely timings from Chester to Manchester calling only at Greenbank, Northwich, Knutsford, Alty and Stockport? It doesn't sound like an attractive option for through passengers compared to the shorter and faster route via Warrington.

Assuming a 1 minute dwell at the stations, It comes out at 70 minutes.

 

[Jack Hay]

Whether Warrington is a faster route depends on where your final destination is. It's unlikely that it's actually Piccadilly station. If it were to be for example, Stockport, or Sheffield, or even Old Trafford, it would be quicker via Altrincham. By the way, the consultation document does not propose a call at Greenbank.

 

[6Gman]

If we ever get the second Manchester-Northwich frequency there might be a reasonable case for the Northwich terminator to then go Middlewich, Sandbach, Crewe. Subject to capacity. And it wouldn't be cheap. My understanding it would require either a major rebuild of the island platform at Northwich, or major track (and S&T) work to access the existing platforms. And the condition of the p way is ... uncertain.