Look’s very good indeed. A great refurbishment very tastefully done retaining lots of characher.

“Work continues behind the scenes aimed at bring forward the re-opening of the Middlewich line to passengers and the building of a new station to serve Middlewich and the surrounding area.

“Our MP Fiona Bruce is still working tirelessly on our behalf, and presented the Parliamentary petition calling for the re-opening of the line and station on the 20th March. She followed this up by writing to the Rt. Hon. Simon Burns, the Railways Minister, making him aware of the tremendous support the re-opening scheme has, both among the people of Middlewich and councillors and officials at town, borough and regional levels. These representations were backed up by letters making similar points from Cheshire East Council and from the Middlewich Rail Link Campaign.

“Our main concern at the moment is still the perceived reluctance of Network Rail to talk about the scheme. That organisation’s assertion that ‘the proposals have been looked and there is not a sufficient business case’ needs to be challenged and corrected. As far as we are aware NR have not looked into the proposals at all, and their attitude remains that they will not do so until enough money has been put on the table to enable the scheme to progress through the GRIP process.

“We are heartened by the fact that the Department for Transport has offered to provide advice to Cheshire East Council, whose responsibility as the local transport authority it is to progress this scheme. This is something that Cheshire East has stated that it is very keen to do, as the benefits for Middlewich and the wider area of the re-instatement of this link make it of vital importance for the regeneration of the town and a considerably wider catchment area.

“Our hope is that the Middlewich proposals will be considerably more advanced when the Government decides to make more money available for schemes such as ours.

“Recently Network Rail’s Director of Network Strategy and Planning published consultation documents on the long-term planning of the network in order to achieve: ‘economic growth, reduced carbon emissions and improved quality of life for communities and individuals.’ Fiona Bruce immediately identified this as an opportunity to raise the campaign’s profile within Network Rail and she has written to NR’s Director of Network Strategy and Planning reminding him of the existence of the Middlewich proposals, which will do all this and more for this area, and asking for his help in getting NR to look at the plans and talk to Cheshire East about them. MRLC will also be writing a letter supporting what Fiona Bruce says.

“To sum up, we are more confident than ever of the eventual success of our campaign and will continue to do everything we can, in conjunction with our very enthusiastic local MP and Borough Council, to ensure further progress.”

And no, Mad Dog MCREA is not a spelling mistake by the MCRUA Vice Chairman!

But this will certainly appeal to those that travel on our very successful Music Trains.

If you are looking for a great evening out and some Summer Madness with an excellent blend of music where all proceeds go to UgandAid then ….

Take the train to Plumley Railway Station on Saturday 22nd June 2013.

The venue at Beach House Farm is just down the road from the Railway Station.

MDM blend a unique mixture of folk rock, pop, gypsy jazz, bluegrass and ‘shake your ass’ music, Songs of adventure, drinking, love and life, to traditional songs of gypsies, fairies, legless pirates and black flies.

Mad Dog MCREA never fail to capture their audience with their infectious songs

Gates open at 6.30pm and there is high quality BBQ food available.

Finally, thanks to all those volunteers at Plumley who work down on the Railway Station and make their station a cherished part of village life.

Click here for further details

Many congratulations from us, as well as from the rest of the team at Knutsford – Ronnie, Cheryl and Roy, as well as “the boss”, our Line Manager, Chris Ingham.

Graham Evans MP for Weaver Vale attended the presentation of the Petition when Fiona Bruce said:

I rise to present a petition from the Middlewich rail link campaign, supported by more than 2,000 residents from people in the towns of Middlewich and Sandbach in my constituency and from Northwich, in the constituency represented by my hon.

Friend the Member for Weaver Vale (Graham Evans), who is in the Chamber and also supports the petition. The petition asks for the reopening of the Sandbach to Northwich branch line and the reintroduction of passenger services at Middlewich station along the line. 

The humble petition of the Middlewich rail link campaign and its supporters says: 

The Petition of residents of Middlewich and the surrounding area, declares that the Petitioners call for and fully support the reopening of the Sandbach to Northwich branch line to passenger traffic and the vital reopening of Middlewich railway station. 

The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Department for Transport to consider the reopening of the Sandbach to Northwich branch line to passenger traffic and the reopening of Middlewich railway station.

Knutsford Guardian – Wednesday 27th March 2013
Click to enlarge

The High Sheriff, Mayor of Northwich and local MP
help Northwich Celebrate

On Wednesday 27^th March, over 50 guests joined the High Sheriff of Cheshire, the Mayor of Northwich and local MP Graham Evans in celebrating 150 Years of Rail Travel at Northwich Railway Station.

This was to mark the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Company extending their railway from Knutsford to Northwich in 1863 – 150 years ago.

Packed into the Booking Hall at exactly 1015hrs, the guests heard that the Northwich Guardian in 1863 was reporting:

“The first train arrived at Northwich at 7.40am and a considerable number of spectators assembled to witness the first arrival and departure composed principally of the working people of Witton.

 At 1015 there was an assembling of 1000 persons at Witton Station to see the trains and that during the day the number of passengers booked at Northwich was 308 and arrivals numbered 274. 

At the works of Mr Gibson that joined the line, rockets were let off as each train passed and canons were fired”. 

Victorian singer, Roy Clinger provided entertainment and started the proceeding with a poem written by Railway Poet Malcolm Roughley.

The Mayor of Northwich, Cllr George Mainwaring, welcomed the gathering to Northwich and both thanked the railways for putting Northwich on the map 150 years ago and bringing visitors to the town today.

Graham Evans MP, who had travelled up from Westminster the previous evening by train, told the spectators that today Rail was at the top of the government’s agenda.  He complimented both MCRUA and the Mid Cheshire Community Partnership for their work on the Mid Cheshire Line and how this was respected at Westminster.

Sally Buttifant, the Partnership Rail Officer then thanked the special guests and all those that supported the line with volunteer activity.

Ron Carey, former railwayman and long time supporter of MCRUA and the Mid Cheshire Community Rail Partnership was then presented with a gift to mark the occasion.

Mark Barker, on behalf of Northern Rail, thanked Sally, MCRUA and other organisations for supporting the Mid Cheshire Line and reminded the audience that, at the time, the renovation and conversion of the former Northwich Station building into an Internet Café and Community Learning Centre was groundbreaking and was now seen as “best practice” in the industry.

The Rev Dr Richard Cook, the North West Area Chaplain, who had travelled down to the celebrations from Preston, then concluded the event by blessing the station.

Former CRP Officer John Kitchen with Sally Buttifant

Following the formalities there was a tour around the Zone Community Learning Centre where guests cut a birthday cake and enjoyed light refreshments courtesy of Roberts Bakery and the local Tesco Superstore.

It will be interesting to see how work progresses especially areas that will be substantially changed.

We also welcome you news and views on this important Mid Cheshire Line Project.

It is all change at Altrincham Interchange!

Altrincham Interchange – March 2013

Altrincham Railway Station Footbridge – March 2013

Altrincham Railway Station Footbridge – March 2013

Altrincham Bus Interchange – March 2013

The Sunday Times, today Sunday 17^th March 2013, published its Best Places to Live in Britain and cited Chester, Northwich and Hale to be best places to live in Cheshire.

Talking about the North  West, it said the area was “in a different league” to the rest of the country but we need to “look beyond the footballer’s wives for delightful towns and villages”.

Referring to The Sunday Times findings, John Hulme, Vice Chairman of MCRUA writes:

“CHESTER, the destination of the Mid Cheshire Line, comes as no surprise and I cannot disagree with my good friend David Mitchell’s comments.

David Mitchell is the Town Crier of Chester which is the only place in Britain to have retained the tradition of regular midday proclamations.

He, therefore, has a lot to say about Chester!

What does stand out in comments about Chester is that Chester has a good rail service and there no doubt the direct service to London has made an impact on those living in the City.  It is also a great place to visit.

HALE, on the Mid Cheshire Line, also comes as no surprise as a great place to live.  Those that live there share their village with soap stars, top surgeons, high flyers and the odd local footballer.

There is an excellent Railway Station at Hale and I am sure the weekday hourly service into Manchester via Stockport has made it a “commuter’s best place to live”.

Whilst The Sunday Times mentions Hale is in Cheshire, we need to remind ourselves that Hale is now in Trafford which is a Metropolitan Borough of Greater Manchester.

But with its fine restaurants, attractive village shops, it is no surprise that it still wants to retain its Cheshire legacy.

NORTHWICH did come as a surprise to be listed in the Best Places to Live but there is much more to the town than meets the eye.

It is routed on the Mid Cheshire Line with not only stations at Northwich but also, Lostock Gralam, Greenbank, Cuddington and Delamere.

It also has its own Station on the West Coast Mainline at Hartford where you can take a regular service into Liverpool, Birmingham and Crewe – where it is easy to connect to onward services throughout the country.

Northwich is also steeped in Heritage with its half timbered buildings, the River Weaver and close by the Anderton Boat Lift.

Check out the Sunday Times this week and you will also find a couple of other reasons why Northwich tops the list of Best Places to Live.

At Number 26, in the Best 100 Not-for-Profit Companies in the UK you will find Weaver Vale Housing Trust which I am sure, through its 344 staff has influenced Northwich to be Good Place to Live.

In the Sunday Times Travel Magazine, you will find details of where to “Cast Off on a Great British Journey”.

At Number 5, the feature suggests a Canal Trip to the Welsh Borders.  This trip is easily accessible from Hire Fleet bases in Northwich.

And if you don’t want to travel too far by canal …. how about staying on the River Weaver and using the Mid Cheshire Line for a day out in Chester, Manchester, Knutsford, Delamere Forest and all the other hidden delights on the Scenic Mid Cheshire Railway Line?”

Trial parking restrictions will be imposed in Hartford Railway Station after complaints about commuters parking to use the train station.

Temporary cones covering an extra 300 metres of Chester Road and Fullerton Road will be in place for seven days from Monday 18th March to Monday 25th March 2013.

The restriction will be enforced by police and PCSOs during the experiment, which is being implemented by Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWAC) and supported by Hartford Parish Council.

The restrictions are in response to complaints from residents that when the popular station car park is full drivers leave their vehicles along Chester Road causing problems for nearby residents and motorists

CWAC regularly receives complaints from residents that this creates road safety issues and access problems.

Clr Herbert Manley, CWAC ward councillor for Hartford and Greenbank, said:

“There have been meetings of residents and Hartford Parish Council looking at various ways of dealing with the problem.

“It was agreed that the best course would be to organise this trial period of parking restrictions so that we could evaluate the result.

“The problem is that parked cars narrow the road and create access issues for residents. Buses and lorries have to negotiate cars parking all day on the roadside which is creating road safety issues.”

Hartford Railway Station is on the busy Crewe to Liverpool Line, which also includes local stations at Winsford and ActonBridge.  The station is managed by London Midland.

John Hulme, Vice Chairman of the Mid Cheshire Rail Users Association, which has over 650 members and looks after member’s interests on the Crewe to Liverpool Line, said:

“Over recent years many more people are commuting and taking days out from Hartford Railway Station and the railway’s success is causing the parking issues.

Hartford Railway Station is not the easiest station to connect by bus for those that live in Northwich and its outlying villages.

Whilst we agree with the current parking restriction trials, it is important that the issue is resolved by CWaC and London Midland.

It is pointless promoting sustainable transport when you cannot park you car close to the railway station.”

The trial will be monitored and evaluated to see whether the restrictions should be made permanent.

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4 March 2013

Mid-Cheshire line study starts

A study looking at a busy Cheshire commuter train line has started, leading to what could be improvements for passengers.

The Mid-Cheshire line runs from Manchester to Stockport and Chester. En-route it serves many picturesque villages, the Delamere Forest and towns including Altrincham, Knutsford and Northwich.

The line has seen tremendous passenger growth in recent years with usage increasing by 66% from 1998-2010. Current figures show it continuing to increase annually at a rate of 10%.

The study will last until April and will focus on journey times, timetable improvements, stations and stops, in addition to infrastructure.

It is being carried out by JMP Consultants with funding for the project provided by Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM), Cheshire West and Chester Council and Cheshire East Council.

TfGM and both councils are part of the Mid-Cheshire Community Rail Partnership, which aims to promote and enhance rail services in the area and is made up of ten stakeholder bodies.

The Mid-Cheshire line survey comes as the Northern Hub rail scheme continues to be implemented across the region.

A £500m seven-year project to improve rail services and infrastructure in the north of England, the Northern Hub is set for completion in 2018. Complementing this is the electrification of key rail routes in the north west by 2016.

Councillor Andrew Fender, Chair of the Transport for Greater Manchester Committee, said: “The Mid-Cheshire line is a key commuter rail route in the north west, with passenger numbers growing year, on year as the statistics show.

“It is therefore very important that services meet passengers’ needs and support economic growth along the corridor between Manchester and Chester.

“By carrying out this study along with our partner organisations, we hope to come up with proposals that could improve services for passengers and help develop the line’s potential.

“Any enhancements to the line would also complement the half a billion pounds being invested in the region as part of the Northern Hub project, which TfGM very much welcomes.”

Councillor Jamie Macrae, Cheshire East Council Cabinet member with responsibility for prosperity, said: “Cheshire East Council is pleased to support this study, which could lead to significant improvements for residents who use the Mid-Cheshire line.

“This is part of our commitment to exploring sustainable transport solutions and improving connectivity both within Cheshire East and across the region as a whole.”

Councillor Lynn Riley, Executive Member for Community and Environment at Cheshire West and Chester Council said: “The Mid-Cheshire Community Rail Partnership has done fantastic work to support the line over many years and those who travel the line see the advantages that this route offers over commuting by car. For most people however it really is a well-kept secret.

“This study aims to highlight the strategic significance of the line and its untapped potential as a major growth corridor. I am delighted that our wider partnership is now recognising the potential and look forward to the opportunities for new investment.”

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A pdf of the formal press release is here.

And here to remind us is a picture I took on the 0759 arrival into Knutsford on 21 November last ….

Should be interesting!