I have lived in Hartford for the last 18 years, and so perhaps can give a more local perspective!
There is little doubt that Hartford could do with a better train service, although having said that, the one at the moment is pretty damn good. We have new and reliable trains serving Liverpool and Birmingham every hour, with some increases in peak hours. Whilst not offering a huge range of destinations, one can still be in London within two hour from Hartford with a change at Crewe or Stafford. Whilst we don't have the London train any more, we are not totally isolated.
Brunner Mond aren't much of an employer here any more and certainly not employees who need to travel on business particularly. However, that does not mean the town is dead! In fact, there seems to be continuous investment in housing developments etc. and the population keeps expanding. I commute to the Netherlands every few weeks as that's where I study. My father commutes to London, Bristol and Glasgow and I know many other families in the area who commute. The trains in the morning from Hartford can be full and standing, and the same from Greenbank. The actual catchment for Hartford station will easily be 30, 000.
However, the real problems are a) parking b) northbound trains. There is little room for parking in Hartford car park. I live not even a minute away from the station, and cars can be found parked along the road for miles for the station. The Coachman pub used to offer parking, I'm not sure if it still does. The second problem is the lack of train to Warrington. There is a huge commuter base here in Hartford and mid-Cheshire to Warrington, but the only option of getting there on public transport is to get a very slow bus, or to go south to Crewe and back north (through Hartford) to Warrington.
Relocating the station isn't the answer, Acton Bridge station is already built in the proposed site. Quad tracking the section through Hartford isn't a solution, as there are housing developments on either side of the large cutting it runs through, not to mention the bridge over the Weaver which would need replacing. Even running a train over CLC junction to link with the Greenbank line isn't particularly needed. A bus runs from Hartford station to Greenbank station if one doesn't fancy a walk in the rain. The real need is a train north to Warrington. And perhaps if one is being picky, an earlier train south bound (leaving before 7am) and perhaps one later train in the evening northbound.
and the benefits as an interchange to wcml would have an effect on the WHOLE mid cheshire line dare i say particularly knutsford with its dreadful road congestion
