Stockport - Stalybridge, will a full service ever operate on this line?

[Prodigy]

It's been interesting to read about the Stockport - Stalybridge line being kept open just because of a parliamentary service. Being someone that lives in Mossley and recently having worked in Stockport I was just wondering is there any possibility that a full service will ever operate on this line? I mean I'm sure a lot of people would use it as there is a lot of job opportunities in Stockport, not to mention that it's one of the biggest towns in Greater Manchester. It just seems strange that they have the line and do not operate more than one service a week on it and people wanting to go to Stockport first have to get a train to Piccadilly before then getting one to Stockport. (For those beyond Stalybridge that means 2 changes and lots of waiting). I really think a service would help.

Discuss.

 

[Nym]

It might be possible to see more services from Denton or Reddish South via Ashton Moss into Victoria but I doubt anything will run through to Stockport any time soon thanks to lack of paths.

 

[Johnny Lewis]

Once TPE divert their main service through Manchester Victoria (albeit some of them will then continue onto Piccadilly via the new Ordsall chord), there could be some merit for providing a better service on the Stalybridge - Stockport route. With a few wires up, an hourly Huddersfield - Stalybridge - Stockport - Crewe service (alternating with an hourly Huddersfield - Stalybridge - Piccadilly service) would create some useful journey opportunities, although there is the potential difficulty of crossing a northbound service at Heaton Norris Jn. (just north of Stockport).

AFAIK, this was the main purpose of the Stalybridge - Stockport shuttle, to provide connections for passengers travelling from Leeds/Huddersfield to Crewe/South Wales/West Midlands, when the main North TPE service was concentrated on Victoria. It was when TPE services were diverted into Piccadilly in 1989 that the Stalybridge - Stockport service was reduced, initially to a couple of trains a day each way, to what we have today, just the one train per week.

 

[pemma]

Once TPE divert their main service through Manchester Victoria (albeit some of them will then continue onto Piccadilly via the new Ordsall chord), there could be some merit for providing a better service on the Stalybridge - Stockport route. With a few wires up, an hourly Huddersfield - Stalybridge - Stockport - Crewe service (alternating with an hourly Huddersfield - Stalybridge - Piccadilly service) would create some useful journey opportunities, although there is the potential difficulty of crossing a northbound service at Heaton Norris Jn. (just north of Stockport).

The plans are for none of the TPE services out of Victoria to stop at Stalybridge or Dewsbury. A half-hourly semi-fast between Piccadilly and Leeds including calls at Stalybridge and Dewsbury is set to be introduced, which will mean Piccadilly will still have 4tph to Leeds via Huddersfield but with longer journey times (the other 2 being Airport-Piccadilly-Victoria-Leeds.)

The only plans for Stockport-Huddersfield services are part of open access applications and would be 2 hourly services if approved.

The Northern Hub includes plans for an hourly Stockport-Denton-Victoria service as there are also plans for an additional Greenbank-Stockport service it's been suggested these two would combine to be a through service.

 

[Prodigy]

''however another company Alliance Rail, proposed a similar service from London to Leeds calling at Stockport and Stalybridge.''

Just read that on wikipedia, don't know how much to read into it.

 

[pemma]

''however another company Alliance Rail, proposed a similar service from London to Leeds calling at Stockport and Stalybridge.''

Just read that on wikipedia, don't know how much to read into it.

They have an active application to the ORR in at the moment, which is likely to be rejected on the basis that the timetable for the next WC franchise is not yet known.