Ordsall Chord Idea

[Bletchleyite]

Moderator note - split from:

Urmston direct to Manchester Victoria

Seems to have been a late evening TPE service running this week originating from Liverpool Lime Street, calling at a handful of intermediate stations with Urmston the last (final) stop before Manchester Victoria (rather than Manchester Piccadilly). Presumably a temporary thing...

www.railforums.co.uk

It's perhaps a shame the Ordsall Chord doesn't have a west to north bit - the CLC is the only railway west of Manchester that can't go to either side without reversal.

 

[Adam Evans]

It's perhaps a shame the Ordsall Chord doesn't have a west to north bit - the CLC is the only railway west of Manchester that can't go to either side without reversal.

Yeah, a direct CLC to Victoria route would be useful. Would probably help relieve some of the congestion along the corridor.

But sadly I haven't seen anyone raising this idea so probably not gonna happen in the foreseeable.

 

[BeijingDave]

Yeah, a direct CLC to Victoria route would be useful. Would probably help relieve some of the congestion along the corridor.

But sadly I haven't seen anyone raising this idea so probably not gonna happen in the foreseeable.

But what purpose would it really serve, for the investment?

Passenger flow from Liverpool and Warrington already can and does go to Victoria. If the CLC is closed or disrupted, it's only really a major issue to, say, someone who lives in Urmston or Irlam, small places compared to Liverpool/Warrington.

Goods flows around the area already has multiple routes to get from the Mersey Valley to north of Manchester.

 

[HSTEd]

Wouldn't this just pile yet more flat junctions into a tangled mass of flat junctions?

I am skeptical it would actually improve our situation.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Wouldn't this just pile yet more flat junctions into a tangled mass of flat junctions?

I am skeptical it would actually improve our situation.

I too am VERY skeptical about it. Useful -yes. Add to delays and congestion - also yes.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I too am VERY skeptical about it. Useful -yes. Add to delays and congestion - also yes.

It would be handy for resilience - it wouldn't be much use for daily service.

 

[Doctor Fegg]

I don't even know how you'd start building that, to be honest. Castlefield is a conservation area and the Irwell a fairly significant natural obstacle.

If you want to give the CLC access to Victoria or the Calder Valley, the only way I can feasibly see to do it is on the other side of town by rebuilding the viaduct near Ardwick that linked Piccadilly to Philips Park. Even that's suboptimal (putting it mildly) as you'd have to cross the entire Piccadilly throat.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

It would be handy for resilience - it wouldn't be much use for daily service.

Eaxctamundo !