Government consultation into Manchester area services

[knutstransport]

Government consultation into Manchester area services
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultati...of-england

As expected proposals for reducing the number of services through Castlefield, also use of paths through Stockport being reviewed. Under all proposals Alderley Edge to Southport is dropped, as is Crewe to Liverpool via Manchester.

The surprise option is 2tph Leeds to Chester via Victoria, with the Piccadilly to North Wales service diverted via Northwich with calls at Stockport, Altrincham, Knutsford & Northwich only. That is also the only option which will include any improvements on the Mid-Cheshire line, with the others being that the Mid-Cheshire line remains exactly how it was in May 2018, with not even peak time extras continuing to Manchester. That option would also see more clockface half-hourly services on the Crewe lines but it would mean fewer cross-Castlefield services and off-peak Hazel Grove would only be served by a half-hourly Buxton service. Another option reduces Buxton back to hourly again but retains Hazel Grove retains the Blackpool service. The other option is Alderley Edge gets the Blackpool service.