Could the Leeds trains terminate at Victoria and then run Stalybridge to Chester via Victoria trains? This then keeps any issues a bit more self contained? Of course there would be some rescheduling needed but then Chester - Stalybridge could be just Victoria crew and Leeds to Victoria can be Leeds crew. A lot less issues with short running because of crew or lateness or any other issues for that matter.
The Leeds to Victoria service is run by crews from both ends anyway, but apart from the pathing issues raised in post #442, linking to Stalybridge would simply not add that many more direct journey opportunities.. The link from Leeds to Chester may not be much use from end to end (obviously quicker via TPE to Piccadilly and TfW on to Chester), but it certainly offers much better access from Bradford, Halifax and the apparently insignificant towns of the Calder Valley (post #440) to Warrington and Chester and the potential connections offered at both. Passenger numbers may not be huge, granted, but I can recall several potential customers declining to use the train from Bradford Interchange to destinations in North Wales due to having to either travel via Leeds or cross Manchester city centre. It is true that crossing from Victoria to Piccadilly may now be accomplished by TPE services, if they are on time, but it is still a further change of train required. It is a pity Northern are struggling so much to operate the service reliably, as I feel it proves a useful link (although not as useful as the service to Manchester Airport would have been).
I would fully agree that a stop at Runcorn East would be justified, but to suggest it should not stop at Hebden Bridge (post #440) is frankly bizarre. Hebden Bridge does indeed have services to Manchester and Leeds, of which this is already one: it is not something additional laid over the top of existing services. As for the population, that of the the ward is over 12000, a fair proportion of whom are quite affluent and travel by train frequently and widely. It is also a tourist destination of some note, not least for the independent shops and bars. Trust me, I worked at the station for some years.