Quote:
Originally Posted by steam for ever
There is the Navigation road bottle neck which is an enourmous problem for train and tram. If you ask me you need four platforms at that station too. Until then neither metrolink or mid cheshire line services can reach their full potential.
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I can't see that happening. The Metrolink platform at Navigation Rd is right up against a car garage and the rail platform backs on to a private residence. There is also the issue of the road with level crossing right next to the station. A level crossing with 4 lines going across it would be very unusual and impractical and there is a further level crossing by Deansgate Junction. This is probably why the original rail line went from 4 lines at Timperley to 2 at Navigation Road, back to 4 at Altrincham.
The best way for reaching full potential would be to use a mix of tram, trains and tram-trains. This would allow services between Stockport and Chester to continue at the same rate via normal train. A 12 minute frequency could operate between Altrincham platform1/2 and Bury by tram and a 12 minute frequency by tram-train between Altrincham platforms 3/4 and Central Manchester with alternate tram-trains continuing to Northwich. However, for that to be successful both train tickets and tram tickets would need to be accepted on tram-trains.