Southport threatened to lose direct service to Man Picc & Airport

[Philip C]

Quite possible, if they can accept shared running between trains and metrolink Wigan to Hindley Junction. But GMTE where also looking at Metrolink to Bolton as a possibility.


I totally agree with you on this point, but they are being put in charge of transport for the regions, and will want to be seen to have some impact whilst at the same time they won't want the other city region having control over transport under their remit. The only way they won't get bogged down in bureaucratic nonsense is to have clear splits where their jurisdiction ends.

Have you heard of Rail North? If you haven't, I'd seriously suggest that you look up their web-site.

Could you also suggest a source for the suggestion that Metrolink to Bolton, if it ever happens, would be over the L&Y route via Farnworth?

You are trying to create problems that don't exist in the interest of unnecessary angst at the implications of pointless solutions.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Could you also suggest a source for the suggestion that Metrolink to Bolton, if it ever happens, would be over the L&Y route via Farnworth?

Perhaps he may have thought of the now-disused parts of the LNWR route that led to Bolton Great Moor Street station from Worsley onwards to Bolton

 

[mwmbwls]

Perhaps he may have thought of the now-disused parts of the LNWR route that led to Bolton Great Moor Street station from Worsley onwards to Bolton

Indeed, the honourable Member for Prestbury may recall this matter being debated at regular intervals in another place
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=121640751&postcount=7789
As I recall the suggestion that former L&NWR routes north and west of Salford might present a suitable case originated with Salford City Councillor(s) seeking to extend the Metrolink link onwards from Eccles.

In view of the fact that Metrolink was founded on the principle of re-purposing existing suburban rail lines to Altrincham and Bury and later extensions to Oldham & Rochdale and East Didsbury - it should come as no surprise that replicating what has proved to be a good idea in the past is suggested here from time to time.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

The most sensible answer to me is to reinstate both Curves, extend Merseyrail to Burscough Bridge via Burscough Junction (would require 2 units for a half hourly service, one would have a long layover at Ormskirk in a new reversing siding; I worked out a timetable for it ages ago), and run an hourly Preston-Burscough Bridge service with a single unit. It would be necessary to rebuild Burscough Bridge station with a long bay (6x20m) on the south side and a small one (2x23m, or perhaps 3x23m for future proofing) on the north side, this could be done within the existing car park.

That said, I understand, to my great surprise, that Arriva Northern are going to put a second unit back on Ormskirk-Preston, so it will be going hourly anyway (as it was in the 1990s). But the cost saved by it being one would be significant.

Could I draw your attention to the recently published prospectus published by the Lancashire LEP which covers amongst other matters the Ormskirk Preston Route and its reconnection with the Ormskirk Liverpool route
http://www.lancashirelep.co.uk/media/26203/4412-lancs-strat-transport_web.pdf

This document aligns with the RailNorth Strategy document
http://www.railnorth.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Long-Term-Rail-Strategy-2015.pdf
This document stresses the need for city regions to collaborate to produce travel opportunities that reflect the need to reflect real world journey requirements in a "North West" rather that a "City Region" perspective.

Perhaps these two documents deserve a fuller discussion on a dedicated thread once fellow members have had a chance to read, mark and inwardly digest.

 

[furnessvale]

Perhaps he may have thought of the now-disused parts of the LNWR route that led to Bolton Great Moor Street station from Worsley onwards to Bolton

I thought the original suggestion for trams to Bolton was to branch off the Bury line at Radcliffe and come into Bolton via the old Castleton-Bolton line?

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I thought the original suggestion for trams to Bolton was to branch off the Bury line at Radcliffe and come into Bolton via the old Castleton-Bolton line?

My posting was made in response to a mention made of the LYR route via Farnworth to Bolton, not the one that you so describe above that one had a LYR railmotor service, where the first stop outwards from the junction at Radcliffe station was that of Ainsworth Road Halt.

However, in past threads on both this website and SSC, that particular former line from Radcliffe has been discussed in depth.