Excellent digging from Wavertree
So let's hope the Wrexham Chester redouble is
OK for capacity
That theMersey Dee route really will be "fastish"
Electrification of Wrexham Bidston happens! and that....
Interchange at Shotton for Western Wirral to and from Chester is hugely improved.
Altogether it might help stop the percentage of motor cars with one person in them and the volume of lorry traffic rolling on the competing roads if rail freight can be redeveloped from Deeside.
Now when is Christmas?
The only observation I would make is the 2nd link by Cheshire Council was undated, but if you open up the pdf and right click on document properties it appears the pdf was created on the 22nd Aug 2013. This of course does not mean the document dates from this time, just that the version was created on this date although the date does seem to tie in with this press release from the Welsh office.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/...rexham-bidston-electrification-is-significant
I seem to remember reading somewhere that Merseytravel had suggested an interchange station in South Wirral on the route adjacent to the M56 motorway to encourage park and ride in Liverpool, although so far I have not found any formal proposals.
Interesting the Bidston / Wrexham line has a Facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/WrexhamBidstonAction
the post from 14th August 2013 is perhaps interesting,
"A recent e-mail response I provided, thought it was worth sharing
"Rail investment for the period between 2014 and 2019 known as the HLOS (high level output specification), has already been set by the Department for Transport. This investment is fairly concrete and it is highly unlikely that the government would add Wrexham - Bidston electrification to this at this stage.
The next round of spending after 2019 will be decided in 2015, which is when all local authorities need to push for electrification. This is complicated by the fact that the line runs through 2 English counties and Wales. The Welsh assembly currently sets the timetable and has the biggest say over the line.
It is for this reason that I have chosen to concentrate on lobbying for a half hourly service in the short term. The benefits of which will not only be improved passenger services, but if more passengers use the line because of this new services, it will also improve the business case for electrification.
The case for electrification needs to be made in terms of economic benefits as well as social benefits. So on that basis I'm not sure there would be a case for electrification based on current passenger figures, versus the high cost of electrification.
If you feel strong about this and are keen to make the case for electrification you could write to the Secretary of State for transport Patrick McLoughlin MP"
Secretary of State for Transport
Department for Transport
Great Minster House
33 Horseferry Road
London
SW1P 4DR "
All should become clear then by the end of next year?