Possible Chat Moss line improvements?

[The Planner]

Actually it did and the stoppers were all station too at the Western End. Add to that, the occasional freight too. The overall daily serviced worked and I reckon the majority of people would like to have that service back again (as below) as it covered all bases.

Had another look and it looks like it does work. You still need the stoppers to be reliable though.

 

[Tayway]

Actually it did and the stoppers were all station too at the Western End. Add to that, the occasional freight too. The overall daily serviced worked and I reckon the majority of people would like to have that service back again (as below) as it covered all bases.

Minor point, I think you are referring to the placing of the Up Slow line near to BT premises rather than anything to do with Platform Four as that was in place and rails were already laid there too while 'discussions' were ongoing.

You're right, I seemed to remember Platform Four not having rails at one point, but by the time the wires were on it was just the section immediately beyond that was the issue.

Had another look and it looks like it does work. You still need the stoppers to be reliable though.

I think having the Manchester stopper return to terminating at Victoria rather than the Airport would be better from a reliability point of view – currently it is often late, both due to Castlefield and the overcrowding caused by removing the Warrington stopper.

The greater acceleration provided by using 323s and 331s on Wigan services compared to 319s should help as well.

 

[Some guy]

The part on a direct service to and from Euston would be interesting. It’s highly unlikely drivers or crews have been trained on the route between Warrington and Earlestown

 

[Ianigsy]

Newton-le-Willows and Earlestown will join Meols Cop and Rainford in the exclusive club of Merseyside stations which have better services to Manchester than Liverpool.

The City Line often feels like the poor relation of the Merseyside network, probably because it’s been split between different operators since sectorisation. What tends to happen is that the responsibility for providing a service from a given station will periodically pass from one operator to another with no real overall supervision.

 

[8A Rail]

The part on a direct service to and from Euston would be interesting. It’s highly unlikely drivers or crews have been trained on the route between Warrington and Earlestown

Which TOC are you referring too here, as both Northern and Avanti drivers / crews ( at least a majority) are already familiar with that section as used a diversion route for Avanti and Northern have trains using that route (which includes some Merseyside based drivers / crews)? Just curious with your thoughts.

You're right, I seemed to remember Platform Four not having rails at one point, but by the time the wires were on it was just the section immediately beyond that was the issue.

I think having the Manchester stopper return to terminating at Victoria rather than the Airport would be better from a reliability point of view – currently it is often late, both due to Castlefield and the overcrowding caused by removing the Warrington stopper.

Without a doubt on that point and how it should be. It was like that before Covid and it worked. One way of cutting down the amount of trains on the Castlefield corridor and I be happy to travel to Manchester Victoria (in fact preference even).

 

[darylyates17]

Noticed the Lea Green platforms look closer to completion than Newton-Le-Willows platforms do wonder if it's so they are ready for the when the car park and new building are complete.

 

[dknayrbdu8997]

Noticed the Lea Green platforms look closer to completion than Newton-Le-Willows platforms do wonder if it's so they are ready for the when the car park and new building are complete.

It would be good if they could coincide.

 

[darylyates17]

The works at Lea Green appear to be complete as of the December 1st would assume they'll be opened for the timetable change on the 10th

 

[Bevan Price]

The works at Lea Green appear to be complete as of the December 1st would assume they'll be opened for the timetable change on the 10th

Meanwhile, for anyone wishing to use buses to connect with trains at Lea Green, the bus services have been steadily reduced over the past couple of years, and a further reduction of the Saturday service is apprarently proposed - to just one per hour. between St. Helens, Lea Green and Widnes. (Pre-Covid, there had been 4 per hour between St. Helens & Widnes, plus another 4 per hour between St Helens, Lea Green & Sutton Manor)

 

[urbophile]

Meanwhile, for anyone wishing to use buses to connect with trains at Lea Green, the bus services have been steadily reduced over the past couple of years, and a further reduction of the Saturday service is apprarently proposed - to just one per hour. between St. Helens, Lea Green and Widnes. (Pre-Covid, there had been 4 per hour between St. Helens & Widnes, plus another 4 per hour between St Helens, Lea Green & Sutton Manor)

Is this the Steve Rotheram 'London-style transport network'?

 

[Bevan Price]

Is this the Steve Rotheram 'London-style transport network'?

No - the privatised Arriva bus network.
It remains to be seen what Rotheram bus does to "improve" services - and how much that increases our Council Taxes to pay for it.

 

[urbophile]

No - the privatised Arriva bus network.
It remains to be seen what Rotheram bus does to "improve" services - and how much that increases our Council Taxes to pay for it.

That would be tax money well spent. It's scandalous how sparse the bus service is away from a very few prime routes.

 

[507020]

No - the privatised Arriva bus network.

It must be the worst in the world at this point. Since DB announced their disposal of Arriva, I’ve found their buses being over 2 hours late some days.

It remains to be seen what Rotheram bus does to "improve" services - and how much that increases our Council Taxes to pay for it.

Unlike the TfGM proposal, Steve Rotheram’s consultation document did actually include a full list of all routes he proposes to franchise along with proposed start dates, but not route numbers. I did notice several routes unilaterally withdrawn by Arriva included in the list.

Of course enlarging the catchment of the Chat Moss line, or any other, with genuinely usable integrated bus connections would greatly improve the service, but wouldn’t this require some mitigation of overcrowding?

 

[darylyates17]

Lea Greens platform extensions are now open and in use.

 

[danbarjon]

Lea Greens platform extensions are now open and in use.

Was at Newcastle before and they still announce short platforms, also does this mean wheelchair user no longer need to get off at either Manchester or Liverpool and get either a different train or taxi?

 

[darylyates17]

Was at Newcastle before and they still announce short platforms, also does this mean wheelchair user no longer need to get off at either Manchester or Liverpool and get either a different train or taxi?

I think the ASDO beacon might not have been moved on the Manchester bound platform did notice one hazard light wasn’t illuminated, Liverpool bound all 5 coaches opened as I boarded the front coach.

 

[RHolmes]

Was at Newcastle before and they still announce short platforms, also does this mean wheelchair user no longer need to get off at either Manchester or Liverpool and get either a different train or taxi?

I think the ASDO beacon might not have been moved on the Manchester bound platform did notice one hazard light wasn’t illuminated, Liverpool bound all 5 coaches opened as I boarded the front coach.

The software on the 802’s is slowly being updated. Some trains have been modified to open all doors, but not all, hence the announcements still being used about being in the front 4 carriages.

Wheelchair users can now board and alight by the guard opening a local door or egress if travelling on a train that hasn’t been modified.

(These trains don’t use beacons, they’re only for the 185 stock).

 

[darylyates17]

The software on the 802’s is slowly being updated. Some trains have been modified to open all doors, but not all, hence the announcements still being used about being in the front 4 carriages.

Wheelchair users can now board and alight by the guard opening a local door or egress if travelling on a train that hasn’t been modified.

(These trains don’t use beacons, they’re only for the 185 stock).

That explains it I assume it won't take too long for the software to be updated.

 

[RHolmes]

That explains it I assume it won't take too long for the software to be updated.

No, It just requires the trains which are stored overnight at sidings such as Edge Hill to return to Hitatchi who simply update the software using a laptop.

Most likely will be done by this weekend

 

[Alz]

Which TOC are you referring too here, as both Northern and Avanti drivers / crews ( at least a majority) are already familiar with that section as used a diversion route for Avanti and Northern have trains using that route (which includes some Merseyside based drivers / crews)? Just curious with your thoughts.


Without a doubt on that point and how it should be. It was like that before Covid and it worked. One way of cutting down the amount of trains on the Castlefield corridor and I be happy to travel to Manchester Victoria (in fact preference even).

The unions at Liverpool have asked many times now for the return of the WBQ service or continue to Victoria if there’s no path available but have constantly closed down by management saying that there’s not enough demand despite overcrowding on nearly every train. It feels to us that the government has us in a managed decline due to the disputes that are going on at the toc

 

[darylyates17]

The unions at Liverpool have asked many times now for the return of the WBQ service or continue to Victoria if there’s no path available but have constantly closed down by management saying that there’s not enough demand despite overcrowding on nearly every train. It feels to us that the government has us in a managed decline due to the disputes that are going on at the toc

I thought the 2 TPE paths meant no extra services could run to Victoria (yes the Hulls arent going to Liverpool at the moment) maybe now Stalybridge is being electrified they could maybe extend back to how the services were before electrification of Chat Moss and have the Airport services as well.