Correct. Probably from electrification in 1960 or whenever.Vague recollection that there were once (in the 1980s) half-hourly direct services between Wilmslow and Heald Green, this before the Airport spur opened in the 1990s. These would have been trains from Alderley Edge to/from Altrincham via the Styal line.
The Crewe-Wilmslow-Manchester-Altrincham service pattern as I remember it in the 1980s was:Service provision on direct Northern services between Wilmslow and Heald Green (via Manchester Airport) was hourly (Mon-Sat) and two-hourly (Sun) in the Winter 2013/14 timetable.
Vague recollection that there were once (in the 1980s) half-hourly direct services between Wilmslow and Heald Green, this before the Airport spur opened in the 1990s. These would have been trains from Alderley Edge to/from Altrincham via the Styal line.
Yes, it was a clock-face local railway on the Styal line before the Airport link came - every 20 minutes in the peaks, and every 30 mins otherwise, no skip-stopping, with only a 5 minute deviation in the morning and late afternoon to allow the Manchester Pullman through, which in those days avoided Stockport.Correct. Probably from electrification in 1960 or whenever.
Conversion was April/May 1971, but otherwise concur with what you say.So Wilmslow-Heald Green services was every 30 minutes and had been since 1970 (conversion of Altrincham line to 25kV AC from 1500V DC).
Thanks, I didn’t start going into Manchester until 1973, I’ll try and get this right in future too!Conversion was April/May 1971, but otherwise concur with what you say.
In the past services have operated from Skegness and also from North Wales/Chester to Manchester Airport via Crewe which would have called at Wilmslow. The Skegness service often got no further than Crewe due to late running. The service from North Wales/Chester had to reverse by Crewe Diesel Depot for a time due to a points problem affecting platform 6 at Crewe, the only platform which can be accessed from both the Chester and Manchester lines at Crewe.Getting back to the OP's original question, anyone able to advise when direct weekday Wilmslow -> Heald Green services were last operated more frequently than just hourly? (And was it ever possible to instead make the journey by travelling on a service from the Crewe/Alderley Edge/Wilmslow direction that terminated at Manchester Airport and then changing there for an onward service calling at Heald Green?)
In the past services have operated from Skegness and also from North Wales/Chester to Manchester Airport via Crewe which would have called at Wilmslow. The Skegness service often got no further than Crewe due to late running. The service from North Wales/Chester had to reverse by Crewe Diesel Depot for a time due to a points problem affecting platform 6 at Crewe, the only platform which can be accessed from both the Chester and Manchester lines at Crewe.
In the past services have operated from Skegness and also from North Wales/Chester to Manchester Airport via Crewe which would have called at Wilmslow. The Skegness service often got no further than Crewe due to late running. The service from North Wales/Chester had to reverse by Crewe Diesel Depot for a time due to a points problem affecting platform 6 at Crewe, the only platform which can be accessed from both the Chester and Manchester lines at Crewe.
That would have been after the airport link was built and before the south curve was added. From memory there was almost nothing from Wilmslow via the Styal line at that point; Styal itself was basically a parliamentary service. Essentially the two Styal line stoppers referenced above were diverted into the airport.For a good while Styal lost most of its services and I think it was for over a decade.
It's always been hourly for last 30 years since the Airport spur opened. Not sure before that. One to Manchester Airport and the other goes to Alderley Edge/Crewe.Hello,
There is only 1 service per hour on the above route on weekdays (via Manchester Airport). Is this because of COVID or has it always just been just one?
Thanks
It's always been hourly for last 30 years since the Airport spur opened. Not sure before that. One to Manchester Airport and the other goes to Alderley Edge/Crewe.
I do.....but several of them are stashed away in boxes in the attic which I can hardly lift nowadays!Anyone on here have a collection of old GB timetables?
One of the few good parts of the May 2018 timetable is that it reinstated the hourly Styal service.For a good while Styal lost most of its services and I think it was for over a decade. Although I recall it had a better Sunday service at one stage too. For a time too there were heritage DMUs covering the only service calling regularly in part of the 90s.
Working timetables only.Anyone on here have a collection of old GB timetables?
amazed the Sunday Wimslow to Lime Street via Airport has survived the last Covid cuts!
it's rather ironic that the last one front Lime Street is later than weekdays which is good as the last Piccadilly/Wilmslow on Sunday is 2300.via Stockport !