Themapdrawer
New Member
This is an idea sketch for future (hopefully near future) expansion of the Bee Network via Rail. Either Light Rail or Metrolink from Manchester to Wigan, incorporating Leigh.
First, we see at the far bottom right corner the very far ends of the red and blue line of the Metrolink near Eccles. The red and Blue squares, accordingly, indicate where they terminate currently. The slightly darker red and blue lines, accordingly, merging to purple indicate the proposed future extension to Eccles and Alder Forest. This means that either, or both, the red and blue line could continue their journey along the now orange line with stations at: Alder Forest, Worsley, Mosley Common, Tyldlesy (interchange station), then... branch 1: Higher Folds and Leigh, terminal station and back. And... Branch 2: Howe Bridge (Atherton South), Hindley Green, Platt Bridge, Spring View (Ince South), Ince in Makerfield and Wigan Wallgate terminal station and back. It is also possible to add a 3rd service that dips in to Leigh then goes on to Wigan and back in the same fashion.
If the metrolink (tram) itself is not a feasible idea, the line could still be constructed but for a light rail style transport. Hence the orange line beginning at Alder Forest, where you would then change there for tram services to Manchester.
I also want to point out that branch one would run along the current guided busway, which means it would need to be converted. Branch to thereafter, towards Wigan from Howe Bridge to just before Platt Bridge would run along side, or in the middle of the to be constructed Wigan to Bolton Link Road, from Atherleigh Way through the South Hindley site exiting before Amberswood Link Road section. From Atherleigh Way Howe Bridge to Tyldsley Interchange, before what is currently the guided busway, the track would run along what is currently a pathway joining between the two sites, which is, and the rest of it for that matter disused railway sites anyway.
An alternative to this would be to, as illustrated by the green line, take an extension, again along disused rail line, though perhaps some compulsory purchase may be necessary for this, from the existing Atherton Line to connect to the guided busway, (which in this case would still need converting), to then terminate at Leigh, using hybrid metro/lightrail service. This option, which is probably more likely, though leaves out many other townships, would at least STILL get a form of rail service to Leigh, which is much needed. Since that connection would be near Walkden Station, you'd be able to get from Wigan to Leigh via rail by changing at Walkden Station for a service to Leigh from Manchester.
What do you reckon?
