Tyldesley loop line - how strong is the case for reopening?

[Philip]

Do you think the 'Tyldesley Loop Line' between Patricroft and Leigh has a strong case for reopening and either way where are the biggest tangible obstacles on the line of route? I don't know what it is like further west but between Monton and Ellenbrook the line doesn't look particularly difficult to restore - the loopline footpath uses the old trackbed along here and the platform for Worsley Station is still in situ.

Furthermore, I think this is a case of a closed line which would be well used if it did reopen; it would put Leigh back on the railway map and provide a much quicker journey into Manchester than the bus. If extended to Wigan via Hindley then this too would be well used as Leigh and Wigan are both large neighbouring towns. Worsley is like a smaller version of Wilmslow, so this would probably see decent numbers of passengers using the train to travel to Manchester and beyond. Monton is a fast-developing and trendy suburb of Salford, not unlike Chorlton, so a reopened station here would also probably be well used and, again, quicker than using the bus.

 

[javelin]

How do you connect Monton to Eccles? Does Chat Moss have capacity to run a worthwhile frequency of service?

The eastern end between Monton and Ellenbrook doesn't have that dense a catchment, and where it is more dense there are existing stations not that far away. It might make more sense to a have a light rail spur off the Atherton line between Walkden and Ellenbrook, before joining the alignment through to Tyldesley and Leigh and run tram-trains along it. That way you not only reach most of the catchment but also improve frequency on the lower end of the Atherton line.

 

[snowball]

The absence of a connection at the Eccles end would seem fatal to the idea. The M602 and houses are in the way.

In addition to closing the busway west of Ellenbrook, you would have to re-level it in places, where old bridges were replaced by flat signal-controlled crossings of roads, apparently to avoid the cost of maintenance.

 

[Accura]

As a former resident of Monton I've thought very hard about how this route could possibly be reopened as either NR, or Metrolink with a view to eventual conversion of the Leigh Guided Busway. The conclusion was that getting the line from Monton Green to the Chat Moss line would require far too much property demolition, and there wouldn't be capacity on a line that already struggles to serve it's local stations. The best Monton can hope for is an improved service at Eccles and Patricroft stations (which really aren't that far away) and improved journey times on the Eccles. Plus the existing walk along the loop line is beautiful.

For the rest of the busway, if conversion does ever happen I'd go with what javelin posted - link it in to a tram-trained Atherton Line, possibly using the disused alignment between New Manchester and a new junction to the west of the existing Walkden station.

 

[Bevan Price]

Yes. It was a stupid idea to close the line via Leigh & Tyldesley, but there are a lot of expensive problems to solve before it could ever be reopened. BUT - if it were ever to reopen, I think it would be desirable to restore the links to both Manchester and Liverpool. In addition to the problems mentioned above, a new alignment would be needed through Leigh town centre - demolishing a supermarket and a few other buildings, plus removing the road built on the trackbed between Pennington and the approach to Kenyon Junction. Plus new connections and signalling at Kenyon.

Property on old trackbeds is not a fatal problem - it is the cost of compensation that is the biggest problem. (After all, property is compulsorily purchased if a new road - or HS2 - is deemed to be in the national interest.)

 

[childwallblues]

I remember the line well. The Lime Street to Victoria stoppers used to go that way.

 

[Chester1]

Reopening the line is a classic enthusiast "problem looking for a solution". Various options have been looked into and the Guided Busway was the only option with a decent business case. I would favour reopening Kenyon Junction or Glazebury stations as a Leigh Parkway Station and extend Guided Busway services from the town. That would would provide improved access at a fraction of the cost. The station could be built with space for four tracks or built on a loop from day 1 to increase capacity of the line.