Could Merseyrail services be extended beyond Hunts Cross towards Warrington?

[Gareth]

Extend to Birchwood, where a bay platform could be build. Electrify this extenstion at 25kv AC OHLE (do to Castlefield also, you may as well). Also covert the 3rd Rail between Hunts Cross and Liverpool South Parkway. Have 6tph from Southport to Parkway. Have three extend to Birchwood.

This would mean no trains terminating at Hunts Cross, so the terminal platform could be done away with; and so the crossing conflict. Hunts Cross would have slightly worse service but could be compensated slightly by having the other of the two Northern stoppers that currently doesn't stop to call there additionally.

 

[Tomnick]

I don’t think the conflicting moves are really a problem at all at Hunts Cross. There’s sixteen moves each hour over the junction, but eight of those can be made in parallel pairs, and the low speeds and approach control mean that it doesn’t cost you much time if you do have to wait for something else to come across in front of you.