Altrincham to Warrington

[Philip]

Why was the line between Warrington and Altrincham via Lymm closed as late as it was (1980s I think)? Is there a strong case to reopen the line? Most, if not all, of the route and its structures are still intact and Lymm especially would benefit greatly from a new rail service into Manchester, and to Warrington. Currently the public transport offering towards Manchester is a rather inadequate bus service to Altrincham, requiring a change onto the tram. Dunham Massey would see good use too because of the park. The viaduct over the Ship Canal at Latchford probably needs a bit of work doing to it, but it doesn't look in a terrible state.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Passenger services were withdrawn back in 1962.

Although freight workings continued to use the line for another twenty odd years, it was the likely cost of repairing Latchford viaduct that eventually did for the line in the mid 1980s.

Presumably the powers that be at BR at the time considered that there were adequate alternative routes for the freight traffic still operating.

Entirely possible of course that the same team of bean counters who had had the job of estimating the cost of repairing Ribblehead viaduct also costed Latchford viaduct.

Believe that there was a fairly recent bid to get funds for a feasibility study into reopening the line, but unfortunately it wasn't successful. Lymm is the biggest town mid route, but even so, probably has a population of less than 15,000.

 

[30907]

http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/b/broadheath/

To add to what Mcr Warrior has said: the service by 1958 was peak hours only (bar a midday train) and clearly focussed on travel into Manchester.
The freight that survived was principally coal from South Yorkshire (to Fiddlers Ferry and Garston Docks) - enough said!

Dunham Massey station is a good mile (in the wrong direction) from the park entrance.

So unless there is a huge hidden demand for Lymm-Manchester I think the answer to your second question is "no."

 

[zwk500]

Is there a strong case to reopen the line?

I doubt it, Warrington already has 2 direct links to Manchester. It would also have a potential impact on Arpley Sidings, as the line down to the viaduct is used as a headshunt or runround loop, I think.

Most, if not all, of the route and its structures are still intact and Lymm especially would benefit greatly from a new rail service into Manchester, and to Warrington.

Unfortunately, at Altrincham there's a rather large business park very firmly over the top of the old route. There also looks to be obstructions at Lymm. And in the eyes of the planning people, the old structures and route will mean very, very little. It's a new-build line. W12 gauge is almost certain to be required (Latchford viaduct, if it could be retained, may get an exemption).

The viaduct over the Ship Canal at Latchford probably needs a bit of work doing to it, but it doesn't look in a terrible state.

Depending on what you want to carry it could need anything from a sand down and repaint to total replacement. I suspect it will need a fair bit of work as this line would have potential for freight traffic, and therefore would probably be built to RA10.

But the biggest problem, by a very long way, is where do the trains go once they've got to Warrington or Altrincham? There's no more space through Stockport and you'd want to run beyond Warrington to Liverpool, and Lime Street isn't the quietest place in the North West.

 

[Greybeard33]

The NPR proposals include a line from Liverpool via Warrington to join the HS2 Manchester spur at High Legh. The details are not in the public domain, but there has been a leak that one of the route options would follow the alignment of the freight line through Fiddler's Ferry. That is the surviving western part of the line that is the topic of this thread.

It seems possible that the NPR route might join the disused alignment near Thelwall and follow it through Warrington Bank Quay (with some cutoffs/curve easing).

 

[HST43257]

WBQ LL has to be the best option for Manchester/Crewe to Liverpool high speed in Warrington. It presents an opportunity to create a super hub, with lots of enhanced frequent connections if they seem feasible.