Quote:
Originally Posted by tkboomer2
Why are there very rarely plans to increase or reopen railway lines with passenger numbers increasing all the time?
Macclefield (Cheshire) and Buxton (Derbyshire) are connected by a dangerous section of road which has to close more often than others due to an accident, bad weather or a combination of the two. There is a bus service between the two towns, but obviously if the road is closed the bus can't get through. To go between the two by train you have to go a long way round via Stockport and Buxton to Stockport trains get very busy normally when the road is open, so that is one route that I personally think should be introduced.
|
Given the terrain I don't think a railway line between Macclesfield and Buxton would be viable. There are no suitable valleys along which a railway could be built so much tunnelling would be needed to avoid steep gradients. This lack of a suitable route is the reason why the road is so hazardous. Even in the great days of railway building, when both towns were far more important than they are now, they were never directly linked probably for this reason.
Quote:
Originally Posted by tkboomer2
One line closed by Dr. Beeching (Sandbach, Cheshire to Northwich, Cheshire) carries one goods train a week. Yet the line goes through an average size town without a station (Middlewich) and goes right by Gadbrook Business Park in Rudheath near Northwich. The line would also allow a more direct service from Altrincham to Crewe, making the train more attractive option both in terms of cost and time.) The line must be in good enough condition for passenger trains as Holyhead to London trains have been diverted along it when the direct Crewe to Chester line was closed for engineering works.
|
I agree. I'm sure a few strategically placed stations and a well-timed service between Crewe-Northwich-Altrincham would work wonders. It would also ease some of the pressure on the Mid-Cheshire services between Northwich and Altrincham.
Quote:
Originally Posted by tkboomer2
There's also issues with parliamentary trains such as Stockport to Stalybridge and Chester to Runcorn, which would probably both get a fair number of passengers if they had regular services. Regarding the Chester to Runcorn one that journey takes 26 minutes, while Runcorn to Liverpool takes 23 minutes and Chester to Liverpool takes 45 minutes. So there probably could be a Chester to Liverpool via Runcorn service which would only take marginally longer than the Merseyrail service, hence providing much needed extra capacity between Chester and Liverpool at peak times.
|
A Chester-Liverpool service via Runcorn could also serve Liverpool John Lennon Airport and provide commuters with an alternative to the daily traffic jams on the Runcorn-Widnes bridge.