Greater Manchester Combined Authority: Latest transport strategy draft publication

[Jorge Da Silva]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-46776473

More than 50,000 affordable homes will be built in Greater Manchester by 2038 under new plans to tackle the region's "housing crisis".

The revised plans come after huge protests over a previous proposal for 225,000 new properties.

Mayor Andy Burnham said 30,000 of the 50,000 new homes would be social housing.

He also announced a number of transport plans, including the expansion of the Metrolink tram system.

Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) has agreed to support the house-building using surpluses from its £300m Housing Investment Loan Fund.

Image
The Metrolink would be extended to Stalybridge, Middleton and Salford Stadium under the plans
Other proposals of part of the new "spatial framework" include:

• The release of brownfield sites for development
• More homes in town centres
• Redevelopment of transport interchanges in Tameside and Stockport
• Expansion of the Metrolink tram network to Stalybridge, Middleton and Salford Stadium
• Vehicles that can be used on both tram and train lines, similar to a scheme in South Yorkshire
• Development of Salford Central station

The 2016 consultation on the housing plan drew 27,000 responses and led to demonstrators marching against proposed greenbelt development.

But Mr Burnham said officials had "listened carefully" to the public this time around.

"Planning will always be a difficult question of striking a balance between creating new homes and jobs and protecting the environment," he said.

Plans for Metrolink Expansion to Stalybridge, Salford Stadium and Middleton.

Also plans for tram-trains as they want vehicles that run on Tram lines and train lines.

https://www.gmcameetings.co.uk/download/meetings/id/4048/9_gm_2040_transport_delivery_plan

 

[Jorge Da Silva]

The plans in the transport strategy above seem to indicate extensions:

• New station at Cop Road on the Rochdale to East Didsbury
• Rochdale to Bury
• New station at Elton Reservoir
• Manchester Airport Loop
• Manchester Airport to Wilmslow
• Altrincham to Hale
• Ashton to Stalybridge
• Glossop line
• Marple Line
• East Didsbury to Hazel Grove
• Stockport to Manchester Airport
• Cornbrook to Manchester Airport
• Middleton extension
• New station at Sandhills
• Atherton Line
• City Centre Tunnel
• CLC Line to Warrington
• Port Salford to Trafford Centre

 

[Bletchleyite]

So basically they want to take Merseyrail-style control of Manchester's entire local rail network.

It's not entirely surprising that they might think this way!

 

[PR1Berske]

The plans in the transport strategy above seem to indicate extensions:

• New station at Cop Road on the Rochdale to East Didsbury
• Rochdale to Bury
• New station at Elton Reservoir
• Manchester Airport Loop
• Manchester Airport to Wilmslow
• Altrincham to Hale
• Ashton to Stalybridge
• Glossop line
• Marple Line
• East Didsbury to Hazel Grove
• Stockport to Manchester Airport
• Cornbrook to Manchester Airport
• Middleton extension
• New station at Sandhills
• Atherton Line
• City Centre Tunnel
• CLC Line to Warrington
• Port Salford to Trafford Centre

I dare say that many regular posters on this forum will be long since dead by the time these aspirations are funded let alone built!

 

[Greybeard33]

The plans in the transport strategy above seem to indicate extensions:

• New station at Cop Road on the Rochdale to East Didsbury
• Rochdale to Bury
• New station at Elton Reservoir
• Manchester Airport Loop
• Manchester Airport to Wilmslow
• Altrincham to Hale
• Ashton to Stalybridge
• Glossop line
• Marple Line
• East Didsbury to Hazel Grove
• Stockport to Manchester Airport
• Cornbrook to Manchester Airport
• Middleton extension
• New station at Sandhills
• Atherton Line
• City Centre Tunnel
• CLC Line to Warrington
• Port Salford to Trafford Centre

For those who have not waded through the 118 pages of the above strategy report, it is a draft Delivery Plan for the period 2020 - 2025, and none of the new proposals are yet funded. "Delivery" means development work would commence by 2025, not that the schemes would necessarily be completed by then.

The rapid transit proposals are subdivided into Metrolink, Bus Rapid Transit and "metro/tram-train". There is a separate section on improvements to the suburban National Rail services. The report is careful not to refer to the proposed metro/tram-train routes as Metrolink. It is also cautious about the feasibility of tram-train technology:

Metro/tram-train services: We are currently studying the feasibility of testing tram-train technology in Greater Manchester, enabling adapted Metrolink vehicles to run on the same rail lines as trains. Tram-train technology and operations will initially be tested through pilot ‘pathfinder’ projects in selected locations. If successful, this could pave the way for a further expansion of our rapid transit network making much better use of our existing extensive network of rail lines, by the 2020s and 2030s.

While it is a potentially transformational solution to increase the reach of our rapid transit network, there are significant hurdles to be overcome before tram-train technology can be implemented. Among other issues, we will need to consider integration with long-distance rail services, the impact on existing rail franchises, and financial and operational management of the new services. As such, we are working closely with Network Rail to progress this and embed the concept into the existing network. If tram-train solutions turn out to be unviable on certain corridors, capacity improvements to the existing rail network could be delivered in the short-to-medium term instead.

The Metrolink proposals for early delivery are:

• Airport line extension to Terminal 2
• Airport line branch from Roundthorn to Davenport Green, via Wythenshawe Hospital
• Increased frequency/capacity between Victoria and Piccadilly (with direct Rochdale/Oldham - Piccadilly services)
• New stops at Elton Reservoir (Bury line) and Cop Road (Rochdale line)

The Metrolink proposals for "options development" are:

• Completion of Airport Loop Western Leg from Davenport Green to Terminal 2 via HS2 station
• Extension to Middleton from Bury line
• Extension to Port Salford/Salford Stadium from Trafford Centre
• Extension to Stalybridge from Ashton
• Connection from MediaCity to Salford Crescent
• New stop at Sandhills (Collyhurst)
• Next generation longer vehicles

The tram-train pathfinder projects are:

• Altrincham - Hale (presumably an extension of one of the existing Altrincham Metrolink services)
• Airport - Wilmslow via Styal (presumably from the existing Metrolink platforms at the Airport to Platforms 1/2 at Wilmslow)
• Rochdale - Heywood (presumably from the Metrolink Rochdale Town Centre stop via a new curve to the main line, then the ELR link line to Heywood)

The metro/tram-train corridors for options development are:

• Glossop/Hadfield line (presumably on street from Ashburys to Piccadilly Metrolink)
• Marple line (as above; includes both Belle Vue and Hyde branches, to both Marple and Rose Hill stations)
• Wigan via Atherton (on street from Salford Crescent to Metrolink 2CC line; terminus presumably at Wallgate station; new stations at Pendlebury, Little Hulton and Dobb Brow)
• Warrington via CLC line (presumably interfacing with a Merseyrail extension Hunts Cross - Warrington Central)
• E Didsbury - Stockport/Hazel Grove (via ex-MML freight line to Hazel Grove High Level; new N - E curve at Adswood for branch to join Airport - Stockport route below)
• Stockport town centre - Airport (on street from Stockport Interchange to Edgeley Jn, then via Stockport - Altrincham line to new E- S curve at Baguley to join Metrolink Airport line; new stations at Adswood, Cheadle and Gatley North)
• Cornbrook - Airport via Timperley (via Altrincham Metrolink line to new N - E curve at Deansgate Jn to Stockport - Altrincham line, then new W - S curve at Baguley to join Metrolink Airport line; new stations at Timperley East and Baguley)
• Bury - Heywood - Rochdale (extension of pathfinder along ELR from Heywood to Bury; presumably new curve to join Metrolink line to Bury Interchange).

There is also a longer term proposal for a City Centre metro tunnel between Cornbrook and Piccadilly to increase rapid transit network capacity (for both Metrolink and metro/tram-train).

The report floats vaguer proposals for additional rapid transit corridors/options, but these are kicked down the road, with investigations unlikely to start before 2025.

The tram-train proposals for the Marple, Atherton and Mid-Cheshire lines do not extend beyond the TfGM rail boundary, so New Mills, Southport and Knutsford/Northwich would be left somewhat "out in the cold".

 

[yorksrob]

Oh brilliant, so we could end up with the CLC route split at Warrington, as well as the Atherton line truncated at Wigan.

Whoop-de-do.

 

[Jorge Da Silva]

Oh brilliant, so we could end up with the CLC route split at Warrington, as well as the Atherton line truncated at Wigan.

Whoop-de-do.

I assume Tram-Trains mean it won't be converted so it is possible some service could continue beyond Wigan and Warrington to Liverpool and Kirkby respectively.

 

[VT 390]

Oh brilliant, so we could end up with the CLC route split at Warrington, as well as the Atherton line truncated at Wigan.

If the connections were good at Warrington then I think this would be okay, especially if the frequency could be improved.
If the Atherton Line converted to Tram operation you could still have a through National Rail service from Southport/Wigan to manchester via Bolton.

 

[yorksrob]

I assume Tram-Trains mean it won't be converted so it is possible some service could continue beyond Wigan and Warrington to Liverpool and Kirkby respectively.

If the connections were good at Warrington then I think this would be okay, especially if the frequency could be improved.
If the Atherton Line converted to Tram operation you could still have a through National Rail service from Southport/Wigan to manchester via Bolton.

I would most likely mean only one through route between Manchester and Liverpool, subject to disruptions and blockades, with the alternatives being slow and tortuous branchlines to Warrington with iffy connections.

GMPT should stop Empire building and contribute to managing the railway as a partner.

 

[Jorge Da Silva]

For the benefit of others there are also plans to build new stations (on Page 56):

https://www.gmcameetings.co.uk/download/meetings/id/4048/9_gm_2040_transport_delivery_plan

Potential New Metrolink stations

• Crop Road
• Elton Reservoir
• Sandhills

Potential New stations:

• Golbourne
• Slattocks
• Dewsnap
• Gamesley
• High Lane
• Stanley Green
• Western Gateway
• Glazebury
• Kenyon
• Cornbrook

Potential New Stations (Metro/Tram-Train:

• Dobb Brow
• Little Hulton
• Cheadle
• Baguley

Potential New Stations (rail or Metro/Tram-Train)

• Pendlebury
• White City
• Timperley East
• Gatley North
• Adswood

Potential Replacement stations (rail or Metro/Tram-Train)

• Lostock Parkway
• Denton
• Reddish South

Any thoughts on the potential new stations?

 

[Sir Felix Pole]

The Airport to Wilmslow 'tram-train' is an unexpected (and welcome) suprise - it seems to have come from nowhere. Presumably it has been choosen as a 'pathfinder' because it is relatively simple - the route is already electrified and there are the Styal line platforms at Wilmslow free of the main-line. It would require dual-voltage stock and a connection at the Airport between NR and Metrolink. The Class 399 stock for Sheffield / Rotherham is dual-voltage (although 25kV AC is not currently used), but they are low floor - I wonder what the plans are?

 

[chillyed]

The line between Navigation Road and Stockport would be ideal for more services. However the level crossing is bad enough now, it would never open at peak times if they added more to it.

 

[Bletchleyite]

The Airport to Wilmslow 'tram-train' is an unexpected (and welcome) suprise - it seems to have come from nowhere. Presumably it has been choosen as a 'pathfinder' because it is relatively simple - the route is already electrified and there are the Styal line platforms at Wilmslow free of the main-line. It would require dual-voltage stock and a connection at the Airport between NR and Metrolink. The Class 399 stock for Sheffield / Rotherham is dual-voltage (although 25kV AC is not currently used), but they are low floor - I wonder what the plans are?

Would that mean the loss of a direct Airport-Crewe service?

 

[Bletchleyite]

The line between Navigation Road and Stockport would be ideal for more services. However the level crossing is bad enough now, it would never open at peak times if they added more to it.

I've not been there for ages. I doubt a bridge would be viable, but could an underpass with minimal compulsory purchase?

 

[chillyed]

I've not been there for ages. I doubt a bridge would be viable, but could an underpass with minimal compulsory purchase?

As a very mediocre bridge engineer I'd say it is very unlikely. Knocking down the houses that were built where the old signal box was, in order to build a footbridge would be welcome though. I'm sick of sprinting under the barriers as they open!

 

[Mogster]

Expand the tram system by all means but not at the expense of existing heavy rail.

Every time I hear of these tram proposals for the Atherton line it makes me despair... The worst thing is the uncertainty that will be caused and the current lack of investment will continue as Atherton “might” become a tram line one day so there’s no point investing in it to improve the heavy rail service...

 

[dvfmlfc]

So basically they want to take Merseyrail-style control of Manchester's entire local rail network.

It's not entirely surprising that they might think this way!

I think GMPTE have always looked at the self-contained and locally-administered Merseyrail system with a certain amount of envy. MPTE had a pro-rail policy right from the beginning, whereas GMPTE concentrated on buses. Look at how quickly each Authority from 1969 ran their areas, GMPTE had a lot of bus consolidation to contend with and they did it well, where MPTE kind of left the buses alone and got on with the business of unifying the rail network.

 

[Gostav]

The line between Navigation Road and Stockport would be ideal for more services. However the level crossing is bad enough now, it would never open at peak times if they added more to it.

I believe it never worse than this level crossing in Japan.

 

[Camden]

Concerning that they are talking about putting even more traffic from Victoria to Piccadilly.

It's one thing to place make, but it's another entirely to do so at the expense of an entire region or regions.

Greater Manchester has placed itself at the centre of the north, and milked that position for all its worth. If it wants the rewards then it also has to accept the responsibility (of ensuring throughput for other cities is protected first and foremost). The Ordsall Chord has proved to be an expensive catastrophe, and enough is enough.

 

[Bletchleyite]

The Ordsall Chord has proved to be an expensive catastrophe, and enough is enough.

Finally, someone else who agrees with me that when they chose which project to go ahead with first they chose the wrong one. There are many which should have gone before it. So many that the thing should in practice never have been built.

 

[superkev]

You would think any document about Manchester transport would mention the Piccadily through platform fiasco which Grayling pulled making the Ordsall chord a bit of a white elephant or have I missed something.
K

 

[Mogster]

I’ve mentioned several times Burnham’s apparent lack of interest in the Castlefield corridor problems. He only seems interested in cycle lanes and GMPTE’s “Mancrail” aspirations...

I hear these “Manchester gets everything” complaints regularly from work colleagues from Yorkshire. The Chord benefits people from Yorkshire and the North East by providing direct links to Manchester Airport. It does very little for Manchester just creates rail chaos. Services to Piccadilly from West Manchester and Lancashire have been reduced to make space for the Yorkshire airport trains.

 

[mwmbwls]

The Airport to Wilmslow 'tram-train' is an unexpected (and welcome) suprise - it seems to have come from nowhere. Presumably it has been choosen as a 'pathfinder' because it is relatively simple - the route is already electrified and there are the Styal line platforms at Wilmslow free of the main-line. It would require dual-voltage stock and a connection at the Airport between NR and Metrolink. The Class 399 stock for Sheffield / Rotherham is dual-voltage (although 25kV AC is not currently used), but they are low floor - I wonder what the plans are?

I think that we can assume that a high floor variant may well be chosen in order to access the rest of the platforms on the Metrolink network. Just how any differences between Metrolink Platform heights and Network Rail platform heights will impact on passenger comfort, accessibility and safety remains to be seen.

 

[Bantamzen]

Finally, someone else who agrees with me that when they chose which project to go ahead with first they chose the wrong one. There are many which should have gone before it. So many that the thing should in practice never have been built.

Not quite. It wasn't a case of the "wrong one", more a case of "the right one but not enough". However, no amount of getting upset and annoyed about the Chord is going to change it's existence or use. Close it, or turn it into a glorified ECS link & you add to the worries the region already has about funding (think newspaper headlines, the phrase "White Elephant", a department looking to cut budgts and you should get the picture). Relatively small amendments to the timetables have proved its impact on delays can be tackled, so its maybe time to consider that it is there to stay?

 

[sprunt]

• Connection from MediaCity to Salford Crescent

Is there any indication of the route for that one? I'd guess carrying on up Langworthy Road from where the current line joins Eccles New Road, and then along Liverpool Street and Albion Way? Or perhaps more likely Cross Lane, to avoid having to close Albion Way to put the tracks down?

(Oh, and can we please not have the Ordsall Chord/Manchester Airport argument in this thread as well please?)

 

[CdBrux]

Concerning that they are talking about putting even more traffic from Victoria to Piccadilly.

It's one thing to place make, but it's another entirely to do so at the expense of an entire region or regions.

Greater Manchester has placed itself at the centre of the north, and milked that position for all its worth. If it wants the rewards then it also has to accept the responsibility (of ensuring throughput for other cities is protected first and foremost). The Ordsall Chord has proved to be an expensive catastrophe, and enough is enough.

Not sure how increasing the tram capacity between Victoria and Piccadilly risks services to elsewhere?

 

[WatcherZero]

I’ve mentioned several times Burnham’s apparent lack of interest in the Castlefield corridor problems. He only seems interested in cycle lanes and GMPTE’s “Mancrail” aspirations...

I hear these “Manchester gets everything” complaints regularly from work colleagues from Yorkshire. The Chord benefits people from Yorkshire and the North East by providing direct links to Manchester Airport. It does very little for Manchester just creates rail chaos. Services to Piccadilly from West Manchester and Lancashire have been reduced to make space for the Yorkshire airport trains.

Whenever they say that cough and mention they spent £20m just on an entrance to Leeds Station and theres as £500m refurbishment planned for the station, twice what they spent on the Chord and the same budget as if they had delivered the entire Northern Hub project including Piccadilly platforms, Oxford Road refurbishment and Salford Central platform reinstatement.

 

[yorksrob]

Whenever they say that cough and mention they spent £20m just on an entrance to Leeds Station and theres as £500m refurbishment planned for the station, twice what they spent on the Chord and the same budget as if they had delivered the entire Northern Hub project including Piccadilly platforms, Oxford Road refurbishment and Salford Central platform reinstatement.

At least we get an extra platform for our £500m !

 

[Richard P]

I'd suggest Mr Burnham and GMPTE would be better swerved by concentrating on getting existing services right first before spending money publishing what are no more than pipe dreams

 

[Greybeard33]

You would think any document about Manchester transport would mention the Piccadily through platform fiasco which Grayling pulled making the Ordsall chord a bit of a white elephant or have I missed something.
K

The Rail section of the draft Delivery Plan lists the following as "committed schemes" due to be delivered in the next five years:

• Hope Valley Line improvements, including new passing loops, by 2022
• Castlefield corridor capacity expansion, by 2024
• Salford Central station upgrade, by 2024
• Trans-Pennine Route Upgrade to Leeds, by 2024
• Rail Station Accessibility Programme, ongoing

Regarding Piccadilly and the Castlefield corridor, it says:

The rail network is extremely congested around central Manchester, and there is overwhelming evidence that a number of infrastructure improvements are required to address performance issues and provide greater reliability. The case has already been made and we will continue to work with Government to make the case for expanding/rebuilding Manchester Piccadilly so that it is fit for purpose for generations to come. We must also find a solution to the Castlefield Corridor (the line between Manchester Piccadilly, Oxford Road and Deansgate) ensuring it can carry the number of trains we need to operate in the future.

A Transport and Works Act Order for new platforms 15 and 16 at Piccadilly was submitted for
consideration by the Secretary of State in 2015. We are yet to hear a conclusion from this
process, pending further options analysis by Network Rail at the request of the Secretary of
State.

Regarding the TPU:

The upgrade of the Trans-Pennine route to Leeds is a national priority, with up to £3bn of
investment earmarked by the Secretary of State for medium-term delivery in advance of
Northern Powerhouse Rail. Electrification from Manchester to Stalybridge could potentially be
delivered as part of this programme, or could be delivered separately.

Regarding further schemes, not yet committed:

In the next five years, we aim to work with the rail industry to complete business
cases for early delivery of…
 Continued programme of rail station accessibility and customer facilities improvements
 Partnership options for management and improvement of local rail stations
 New stations (tranche 1) to be prioritised through the new stations study
 Stockport area rail infrastructure improvements to permit rail franchise service
commitments, HS2, and potential metro/tram-train services (e.g. Greek Street bridge)

These interventions are those with potential to be delivered by 2025 subject to funding and
approval of a business case which demonstrates value for money.

And:

In the next five years, we will work with the rail industry to develop options for…
 The arrival of High Speed 2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail in Greater Manchester, as part
of a fully integrated travel system, including the core components of HS2 and NPR Growth
Strategies. These Growth Strategies will include rail, rapid transit and road investments,
station capacity, local connectivity and wider masterplanning, for:

o Piccadilly
o Manchester Airport
o Stockport
o Wigan​

 Northern Powerhouse Rail – to link Greater Manchester to the North, support the growth
of Manchester Airport and fully exploit opportunities to integrate with HS2
 Rail capacity improvements on key commuting corridors, to be determined through our
on-going Rail Capacity Studies for:

o CLC Line (to Warrington Central)
o South Manchester (including HS2 readiness)
o South East Manchester
o Chat Moss and West Coast
o North West Manchester
o North East Manchester​

 Platform lengthening and increases in passenger capacity at stations, including through
franchise commitments
 Electrification between Bolton and Wigan
 Electrification between Manchester and Stalybridge (subject to final scope of Trans-
Pennine Route Upgrade)
 Park & Ride/Mobility Hub proposals (Rail)
 New stations (tranche 2) to be prioritised through the new stations study
 Strategic rail interventions to support specific new growth allocations identified in the
Draft GMSF, including:

o Port Salford rail freight link
o Godley Green and Hattersley pedestrian/cycle bridge connection (potentially
including Hattersley station south-facing access)
o New stations related to development sites – as assessed through the new stations
study​

These interventions will be subject to appropriate planning approvals and developer
contributions.

This group of interventions needs further investigation or development in order to identify future options and determine feasibility. The options work may identify interventions that could be delivered by 2025, but most are longer term projects that would be delivered in later years.

Future iterations of this Delivery Plan will demonstrate the evolution of these interventions –
some may become priorities for delivery while others may prove to be unfeasible and will not be progressed.

In respect of further electrification:

Further electrification would assist in reducing the carbon footprint and air quality impact of rail operations, but until the rail industry is better able to contain the costs involved, any future expansion will be limited. Greater Manchester will continue to press the case for cost effective electrification, and identify routes which would offer the greatest benefits for the city-region.