Media centre

Monday 22 Dec 2003

COACH AND TRAIN TAKE STRAIN DURING MAJOR WORKS

Region & Route:

National

The rail industry is promising passengers they’ll still have a ticket to ride when engineers start the next major phase of the modernisation of the West Coast Main Line through Cheshire. From 5 January until 22 May, the 22 mile route between Crewe and Cheadle Hulme will be closed for renewals work, with long distance services diverted via alternative routes, whilst local train services will be replaced by a high quality coach and bus service. With up to 600 people working on the project, the work itself includes 40 track miles of track renewals including formation work, renewal of the salt flats formations between Sandbach and Crewe, OLE and civil engineering (relating to the signalling). Explained Network Rail’s West Coast Project Director James Martin: “We have already successfully provided a high quality road replacement service during the four month blockade of the Stoke route earlier this year. Now, working closely with the train operators, in particular First North Western, Virgin and Arriva Trains Wales, we intend once again to provide a high level of service, enabling passengers to continue to travel.” - more - Crewe to Cheadle - 2 The main changes include: Crewe to Manchester Piccadilly ·        Direct service retained between Crewe and Manchester Piccadilly via an alternative route ·        Passengers to/from Wilmslow and Stockport use local bus/coach replacement service listed below Local stations to Manchester Piccadilly ·        Train service between Crewe, Sandbach, Holmes Chapel, Goostrey, Chelford, Alderley Edge, Wilmslow and Handforth to Manchester Piccadilly will be replaced by a coach/bus service to Stockport, then rail link to Manchester Piccadilly ·        During Monday to Friday morning peak, direct coach links in operation between Sandbach/Holmes Chapel and Congleton where a forward rail service to Manchester will be available. Same return arrangements apply from Manchester Piccadilly apply in the evening peak ·        Cheadle Hulme retains direct rail services between Macclesfield, Stockport and Manchester Piccadilly ·        Cheadle Hulme to Crewe services replaced by coach/bus service Wilmslow to Manchester Piccadilly ·        Monday to Friday, direct rail link between Wilmslow and Manchester Piccadilly via alternative route ·        Weekends – Coach/bus service to Stockport, with rail link to Manchester Piccadilly ·        All days – Passengers from Wilmslow to London Euston and destinations via Birmingham New Street, use coach link to Macclesfield to take connecting rail service ·        All days – coach/bus service between Crewe, Wilmslow and local stations in between Crewe to Manchester Airport ·        Throughout this period the rail link between Crewe and Manchester Airport will be replaced by a road/coach service. For the first five weekends of the works (from 5 January to 2 February 2004), the line will be open between Crewe to Cheadle Hulme at weekends only. During the works and through to Summer 2004, Midland Mainline is also operating an alternative mainline link between Manchester Piccadilly, Stockport and London St Pancras.