Ashton-under-Lyne railway station....likely future rail services ?

[61653 HTAFC]

Presumably one of the reasons extra bays were added at Stalybridge in the (fairly) recent works was to allow more services to run through Victoria and terminate there- thus freeing up capacity in the city centre. Regardless of what happens to the Huddersfield stopper, I imagine Ashton will lose this inter-regional link in favour of more Stalybridge terminators. with at least 4 fast trains each hour running through, I'm not sure there'll be much room for more than 2tph calling at Ashton. TfGM might also argue that with Metrolink there, there's no need for more heavy-rail capacity.

 

[Welshman]

Possibly historical as Stalybridge was the junction with the line to Stockport - frequent trains from Stockport to Stalybridge to allow change to Trans-Pennine services. Now, of course, one train in one direction per week! In the late 1950's I used to live next door to someone who commuted from Stockport to Leeds every day changing at Stalybridge. My current next door neighbour gave up his Hazel Grove to Leeds commute due to overcrowding/cost. He retired early.

Back in the day when trains from Crewe and the south-west/south used to go to London Rd, then Piccadilly stations in Manchester and services to Huddersfield & Leeds used to leave from Manchester Exchange, then Victoria, then the Stockport-Stalybridge service was an important link, and used to run hourly, saving the need to cross Manchester. There were even a couple of through services from Stockport to Bradford and one to Leeds via Stalybridge.

Now that the North TPE service to Huddersfield & Leeds runs from Piccadilly, the need for the Stockport-Stalybridge link is removed - hence the "parliamentary" service now operating.

I wonder if that link may be revived now with plan is to run more norther TPE services through Victoria?

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

TfGM might also argue that with Metrolink there, there's no need for more heavy-rail capacity.

This mirrors my earlier thoughts as to why it would be a waste of money to yet-again rebuild Ashton-under-Lyne bus station, this time in the area of the railway station.

 

[edwin_m]

Now that the North TPE service to Huddersfield & Leeds runs from Piccadilly, the need for the Stockport-Stalybridge link is removed - hence the "parliamentary" service now operating.

I wonder if that link may be revived now with plan is to run more norther TPE services through Victoria?

Probably not necessary for that reason, because the two TPE per hour going to the Airport will go through Victoria then round the Ordsall Curve and back to Piccadilly, providing connections between Huddersfield etc and stations on routes southwards out of Piccadilly. However I think there was a discussion here a while ago about other reasons this link might be restored.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

This mirrors my earlier thoughts as to why it would be a waste of money to yet-again rebuild Ashton-under-Lyne bus station, this time in the area of the railway station.

Such a plan would surely only make sense if the tram was to terminate there too, creating a miniature multi-modal hub!

I remember as a youngster getting a 156 from Wakefield Wastegate back home- the unit itself heading all the way to Llandudno but still calling pretty much all places between!