Chat moss
 

Why is Liverpool-Manchester to be electrified? All trains continue onto non-electrified routes. Is it to give Liverpool two lines to London? Apologies to old hands who think this is elementary stuff. This is my first act as member.

Hi Manitoba, and welcome to the forum,from what I recall at the time of the announcement the general idea was that if you complete the electrification of that line you then open up two direct routes from Liverpool and Manchester to Scotland joining the WCML at Newton-le Willows,thus removing the need to electrify the Manchester to Preston line.

Cheers John

More likely a pre-election gimmick from a desperate bunch of incompetents

Hi Manitoba, welcome to the forum.
Don't the DMU's run fron Lime Street to Oxford Road or Piccadilly? Both are currently electric terminii. If the line into Manchester Victoria were electrified then it would relive the overcrowding of Piccadilly platforms 13 & 14.
In steam days, Liverpool trains ran from M/c Exchange to Lime Street across Chat Moss (LNWR), M/c Victoria to Liverpool Central via Wigan bypass line (L&YR) and Manchester Central via Warrington to Liverpool Brunswick(?).
I thought that the original plan was to electrify all the triangle Liverpool; Wigan: Manchester plus the Blackpool "branch". I see the cynics are gathering already. (I wonder why?)

Looking ito the goverment report on this subject has revealed more information,if you electrify this route then the benefits are thus,
A faster service between Liverpool and Manchester.
A diversionary route for the WCML.
An electric service from Manchester Airport to Scotland instead of a diesel one as at the present time, thus releasing the diesel units to be used on Trans-Pennine services.

Hi Tony, the plans show that the route will be electrified in Manchester Vic as well as Piccadilly.I remember the original plans to electrify the route from Man Vic to Bolton, was'nt this scheme put to bed because of the high engineering cost did'nt justify it at the time, the recently modified Chorley Flying Arches springs to mind as being cited as one of the problem areas.

Cheers John

You are forgetting Liverpool Exchange Tony:)
The L&YR trains ran from Manchester Victoria to Liverpool Exchange.
It was the CLC route from Manchester Central via Warrington Central that ran into Liverpool Central (High Level)

Welcome to the Forum Manitoba. You have certainly got a good responce to your first post!

I think the more lines that are electrified the better, inspite of the current probles due to extreme weather conditions!

Best wishes for Christmas and 2010.

John H-T.

Hi John,
Thanks for the correction to my post. I can only plead "Senior Moment"!
It shows what happens when you post without researching your answer.

Hello Manitoba,welcome to the forum.

I think the electrification of Liverpool to Wigan and Manchester - Bolton - Preston - Blackpool has now been announced as well ?:confused: