Preferred site for Skelmersdale's first railway station revealed

[Bletchleyite]

There won't be freight on the rump Merseyrail network - there simply isn't room for it. Any freight will go in and out from the Wigan direction.

 

[HowardGWR]

With the level of service envisaged, would it not be sensible to build the second single line over the M57. I asked this earlier, but nobody responded, Fair enough, perhaps no one knows but are there any opinions? Electrification usually means intensified service levels.

 

[notlob.divad]

That Rainford station could be the secret weapon for this scheme. I would wager on 2 an hour not being enough. It would unlock a hell of a lot of potential for the north of St Helens seeing as the current stations are already very busy with car parks full early in the morning.

The problem with Rainford Station is that it is not in Rainford, road access is not as great as it first may appear and car parking is none existent unless you are friendly with the pub landlord. There is a proposal for an expansion of housing on the Greenfield around Rainford, NM it sure if it is the North end near the station or further south, but it could have a bearing on this proposal.

I suspect the remodelling will be removing the signal box and single track section and straight lining the track.

 

[notlob.divad]

With the level of service envisaged, would it not be sensible to build the second single line over the M57. I asked this earlier, but nobody responded, Fair enough, perhaps no one knows but are there any opinions? Electrification usually means intensified service levels.

There are a couple of other 2 track bridges missing. I think the one over the A570 is wide enough for 2 tracks but a couple of the lanes have been reduced to a single bridge. So putting the M57 bridge in would be sensible but is not in itself sufficient.

 

[Joseph_Locke]

I asked this earlier, but nobody responded, Fair enough, perhaps no one knows but are there any opinions?

It could be that commercial agreements mean that people aren't at liberty to say.

 

[HowardGWR]

It could be that commercial agreements mean that people aren't at liberty to say.

Thanks to you two. More importantly, if 'Skem' and the intermediate stations come online, are we here on RailUK in any doubt that the service will not grow such as to need this reinstatement?

I ask, because i do not believe that there are many singled lines that won't be redoubled, unless they really are twig branch lines, such as Marlow or remote, like, perhaps, ooh, Barnstaple?

 

[WatcherZero]

Windermere Branch line? Was originally a main line.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I ask, because i do not believe that there are many singled lines that won't be redoubled, unless they really are twig branch lines, such as Marlow or remote, like, perhaps, ooh, Barnstaple?

What therefore is your opinion on the single track Blackpool South line, that being somewhat nearer to the Skelmersdale area than either Marlow or Barnstaple?

 

[flypie]

That Rainford station could be the secret weapon for this scheme. I would wager on 2 an hour not being enough. It would unlock a hell of a lot of potential for the north of St Helens seeing as the current stations are already very busy with car parks full early in the morning.

are they going east or west? from Liverpool 2tpk to Skem 2tph to Wigan.

 

[flypie]

With the level of service envisaged, would it not be sensible to build the second single line over the M57. I asked this earlier, but nobody responded, Fair enough, perhaps no one knows but are there any opinions? Electrification usually means intensified service levels.

Don't think at 4tph each way it going to be a problem. If there were any reinstating dual either side of the bridge so there is only a small conflict zone and improving signalling would likely be cheaper.

However if they were to reinstate the line as part of a route Liverpool and manchester. They might need to do it.

Though I can understand why single track, I can't imagine the cost of a bridge capable of taking 2 tracks would have vastly put up the cost.

 

[flypie]

There are a couple of other 2 track bridges missing. I think the one over the A570 is wide enough for 2 tracks but a couple of the lanes have been reduced to a single bridge. So putting the M57 bridge in would be sensible but is not in itself sufficient.

The A506 bridge is the only other one that seems to have been narrowed but the buttresses are still there.

 

[mwmbwls]

With the level of service envisaged, would it not be sensible to build the second single line over the M57. I asked this earlier, but nobody responded, Fair enough, perhaps no one knows but are there any opinions? Electrification usually means intensified service levels.

Probably easier to replace the existing bridge and the original approaches on both sides were double track.

The same applies to County Road in Kirkby

As for Rainford

Build pre-fabricated platforms on each side of the bridge with a large Park & Ride car park just behind the old Ormskirk Road bridge on the left.

 

[flypie]

"Build pre-fabricated platforms on each side of the bridge with a large Park & Ride car park just behind the old Ormskirk Road bridge on the left. "

What why.

The bridge seems to be capable of taking a double track as it predates the line being singled. See the areal shot below.

And while the station may need the platforms reextended to it original length. The question is does it move to Merseyrail and how many services does it get.

 

[Bletchleyite]

It can't not move to Merseyrail, it's in the wrong place in relation to the likely junction for Northern to serve it.

How many services it gets is an interesting question; to me it should be all of them. Buy up that field diagonally opposite and it could be a useful East Lancs Road Parkway.

 

[flypie]

It can't not move to Merseyrail, it's in the wrong place in relation to the likely junction for Northern to serve it.

How many services it gets is an interesting question; to me it should be all of them. Buy up that field diagonally opposite and it could be a useful East Lancs Road Parkway.

What I mean is that it is currently Managed by Northern, it would be possible for it to served by Merseyrail and still managed by Northern.

 

[Bletchleyite]

What I mean is that it is currently Managed by Northern, it would be possible for it to served by Merseyrail and still managed by Northern.

That would be pointless.

 

[flypie]

The report also mentions the Bay Platform at Wallgate as being short. It 90m, though could be lengthened to 140m, with a bit of digging.
However, the proposed Merseyrail trains are only 65m long, so 90m hardly seems like much of a restriction for a Skem Wigan Shuttle.

 

[flypie]

That would be pointless.

That doesn't mean it will not happen. Northern may lose some cash if they lose the station. Also we are dealing with a mixture of Local & National Government plus a Quango or 2. So being pointless is no bar to it happening.

 

[HowardGWR]

What therefore is your opinion on the single track Blackpool South line, that being somewhat nearer to the Skelmersdale area than either Marlow or Barnstaple?

I am just following that separate current thread, where the folk there know what they are talking about.

 

[urbophile]

What I mean is that [Rainford] is currently Managed by Northern, it would be possible for it to served by Merseyrail and still managed by Northern.

Most stations that are managed by Northern within Merseyside (I'm not sure if Rainford is currently one of them or not) nevertheless have Merseyrail branding (colour scheme, platform signage etc). I presume this is technically Merseytravel rather than Merseyrail, but there is some sort of attempt to integrate all services within the county. Under the new City Region Mayor this may be further developed.

However if Rainford were to be served exclusively by Merseyrail trains it would be anomalous for it to stay under Northern's umbrella. (that image was maybe subconsciously prompted by the placename).

 

[Elecman]

As mentioned on other threads there are other stations where 1 TOC is the SFO (Station Facility Operator) but doesn't actually stop trains there whereas other TOCs do stop there do it is not unknown

 

[Mutant Lemming]

That would be pointless.

London Midland manage Wilnecote but none of their services call or even pass through it.

 

[Bletchleyite]

London Midland manage Wilnecote but none of their services call or even pass through it.

Indeed, but there's a different reason for that - XC do not manage any stations so do not have the business functions to do so. Therefore the odd case of a station only served by them sits with the nearest other TOC to save them having to set up all those business functions, contracts etc for a small handful of stations.

There are a few others but there is usually some logic, which wouldn't apply to Rainford.