Castlefield Viaduct ‘sky park’

[STEVIEBOY1]

Yes, that's the viaduct I was referring to (apologies for not replying sooner!). AIUI the curvature is too severe for modern heavy-rail use, so as much as it could be useful otherwise, it's a non-starter.

My concern with the Camden proposal is that supposedly it could be returned to railway use even after conversion... but once it's established as a recreational space, the howling from the more extreme environmentalists would be measurable on the Richter scale. See also some of the Sustrans cycle routes: they say they'll hand them back if needed, but when it comes to the crunch they'll put up a fight.

No Problem, yes indeed. (By the way, I like your photo of what appears to be a German IC or TEE Loco and Train.)

 

[61653 HTAFC]

No Problem, yes indeed. (By the way, I like your photo of what appears to be a German IC or TEE Loco and Train.)

Thanks, but it isn't "my" photo so I can't claim any credit (other than good taste I guess!).

It was intended as a temporary avatar when the Forum software updated in 2017 and my old one (a photo of one of the nameplates from loco no. 61653) was no longer able to be displayed.

 

[WatcherZero]

The condition its in it could never be used for vehicles again when you take the walk you can see the sheer number of the structural cross braces that have been rusted clean through, there are holes in the bridge deck and so a new floor has been laid while locations for planting are also limited to where can take the weight. They had to crane in the pavillion as a modular building as they couldnt use vehicles and would otherwise have to carry and erect everything by hand.

 

[Winthorpe]

The sky park reopens after its winter break this weekend on Saturday 18th February. The plan is to extend the pilot for a further 18 months to December 2024.

It remains free, but this year it is easier to visit. You can either:

• pre-book guided walks between 11am and 12:30pm; or
• turn up after 1pm to explore the park at your leisure.

Full details in the Manchester Evening News:

Castlefield Viaduct sky park set to stay in Manchester for another 18 months

New planning documents show bosses want to keep the sky park open until December 2024

www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk

 

[Techniquest]

I was going to have a nosey at that recently, when I was in Manchester and had the time to go, glad to see I didn't try if it was shut! I'll have to go there next time I'm up, and yes of course there will some feedback in a trip report

 

[plugwash]

If you're looking at tram rather than heavy rail, the idea of the tram running through the "garden" isn't far fetched. Trams can share space with pedestrians and cyclists.

Yes, trams pass through areas with pedestrians present, but there is usually ample space for those pedestrians to get out of the way. On a two-track railway viaduct I'd think you would struggle to have space for a pair of tram tracks and a garden and enough space for pedestrians to get out of the way. I'm also pretty sure trams have to run significantly slower in areas where they are mingling with pedestrians.

 

[ainsworth74]

Reopened for @Winthorpe to give an update.

 

[Winthorpe]

The National Trust has published the 'Next steps for Castlefield Viaduct'. The original pilot phase opened in July 2022 as a temporary urban park covering half of the viaduct’s deck. The plans for the next phase 2 designs, which include opening the remainder of the viaduct into a free-to-access park, have been published:

Phase two: the extension
The ambitious 'vision' plans for the viaduct are being approached by the Trust and its partners in distinct phases, with work on the extension of the sky park, termed ‘Phase 2’, expected to start in 2025 . This could increase the scale of the sky park experience for visitors from 120 metres to the full 330 metre length of the historic structure. Currently, visitors to the viaduct walk through a series of spaces and gardens before coming to a glass wall where the untouched section of the viaduct can be seen. It’s this untouched section of the viaduct which the Trust and its partners are turning their attention to next.

As part of the Phase 2 viaduct designs, the National Trust is looking into a second entry and exit point towards Mancunian Way to improve access and allow more people to visit. Other features could include winding paths to encourage people to slow down and take time out from the busy city beneath them, as well as a series of viewing points and planted areas.

A new addition being introduced to the Viaduct in 2025 is WaterAid's Gold medal-winning garden from this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show, designed by architect Je Ahn and landscape designer Tom Massey. The centrepiece of the thought-provoking design is a planted rainwater harvesting pavilion, which filters and stores rainfall for irrigation, while also slowing the flow of heavy downpours and providing shade. The structure was inspired by WaterAid’s work alongside communities around the world to develop relevant and sustainable clean water solutions and build resilience to climate change.

Designs and proposals are expected to be submitted for planning application in late summer 2024 with the charity actively seeking funders and investors to help bring these plans to fruition in 2025.

The full plans are published here:

Our work Castlefield Viaduct | Manchester

Learn more about the work we’re doing at Castlefield Viaduct in Manchester to transform this historical structure into an urban park for people and nature.

www.nationaltrust.org.uk

Here are links directly to the 'vision document' and fly-through video:

Castlefield Viaduct Concept Vision

Issuu is a digital publishing platform that makes it simple to publish magazines, catalogs, newspapers, books, and more online. Easily share your publications and get them in front of Issuu’s millions of monthly readers. Title: Castlefield Viaduct Concept Vision , Author: BDP – Building Design...

issuu.com

These plans were in fact published in May 2024, but I only came across it today.

Reopened for @Winthorpe to give an update.

Thank you for reopening the thread, @ainsworth74