From: Subject: MCRUA Rail Report No.64 Date: Mon, 17 Nov 2008 21:59:12 -0000 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="Windows-1252" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Location: http://www.mcrua.org.uk/mcrr64.htm X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.5579 MCRUA Rail Report No.64

MID CHESHIRE
RAIL REPORT

ISSUE No. 64             =  =20             SUMMER 2005    =  =20                ON-LINE=20 EDITION

The Newsletter of the Mid-Cheshire Rail Users Association, the Voice = for=20 Users of the Manchester-Stockport-Altrincham-Knutsford-Northwich-Chester = and=20 Crewe-Hartford-Liverpool Lines.

See our website at www.mcrua.org.uk.

DAVID GODLEY TO ADDRESS ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING IN KNUTSFORD

We are pleased to inform members that David Godley, the = recently-appointed=20 Area Director (West) of Northern Rail, is to speak at the 2005 MCRUA = AGM, which=20 is to be held in the Tatton Room at the Knutsford Civic Centre on = Wednesday 22nd=20 June at 7.45pm. The Knutsford Civic Centre is on the main A50 Toft Road = adjacent=20 to Knutsford station. The Tatton Room is at the rear of the building and = has its=20 own entrance. Suitable trains are the 18.24 from Manchester Piccadilly, = due into=20 Knutsford at 19.04 and the 18.10 rail replacement bus from Chester (see = below),=20 changing into a train at Northwich and arriving in Knutsford at 19.37. = Suitable=20 return trains are the 21.42 to Manchester Piccadilly and the 22.04 to = Northwich,=20 changing into a rail replacement bus for Chester. There is a large car = park=20 adjacent to the Civic Hall, which is accessible via Marcliff Grove, the = first=20 side road to the north of the station. We hope for a good turnout of = members for=20 this meeting, which will also feature a competition for two free tickets = for a=20 day trip on Northern Rail services (anyone for the Settle & Carlisle = line?)=20

CHESTER-NORTHWICH TO BE CLOSED FOR ENGINEERING WORK FOR THREE = DAYS

The section of the mid-Cheshire line between Chester and Northwich = will be=20 closed for three days in June for engineering work. The three days are = Tuesday=20 21st June, Wednesday 22nd June and Thursday 23rd June. Rail replacement = buses=20 will operate in both directions, departing from Chester at 10 past the = hour and=20 from Northwich at 25 past the hour. The buses are scheduled to connect = with=20 trains at Northwich. We have no information as to the reason for this = temporary=20 closure of the line.

MANCHESTER SOUTH ENGINEERING WORK

It has now become clear that the Stockport area is to be = blocked=20 every weekend in the summer (from Saturday 11th June to Sunday = 18th=20 September inclusive). MCRUA regrets that it should be necessary to have = so many=20 possessions despite the major blockade of last summer. In addition,=20 Manchester Piccadilly station will be closed to the majority of = services=20 on Saturday 6th August and Sunday 7th August. As a consequence of these=20 blockades, mid-Cheshire line services will only operate between Chester = and=20 Altrincham on Saturdays during the summer. MCRUA hopes that, as during = previous=20 similar blockades, National Rail tickets will be valid on the Metrolink=20 Altrincham line on Saturdays during the blockades. At the time of = writing (31st=20 May) this has not been confirmed.

SUMMER 2005 TIMETABLE FOR THE MID-CHESHIRE LINE

The summer 2005 timetable, which begins on Sunday 12th June, contains = very=20 few changes to the train service on the mid-Cheshire line. The main = change is=20 that, as mentioned above, the train service will only operate between = Chester=20 and Altrincham on Saturdays. A rail replacement bus service will link = Altrincham=20 and Stockport. Saturday trains will generally leave Chester at 01 = minutes past=20 the hour and will leave Altrincham at 08 minutes past the hour. Good = news is=20 that there is an 09.13 Altrincham-Chester service, which fills what is = normally=20 a gap in the service at that time of day. The 13.20 Sunday train from = Altrincham=20 to Chester is retimed to depart at 13.23. We are however disappointed = that the=20 last Sunday train from Chester still departs at 20.10, the same time as = the boat=20 train from Holyhead is arriving into Chester! We will continue to press = for a=20 connection to be provided between the two services. MCRUA is also = pressing for=20 the 09.31 Northwich-Blackpool North train to start in service from = Greenbank=20 rather than running empty from Greenbank to Northwich. The train arrives = at=20 Greenbank in passenger service from St Annes-on-Sea via Manchester but = it is not=20 allowed to depart in passenger service from the Chester-bound platform = at=20 Greenbank because it would do so under the authority of a position light = signal.=20 A position light signal is a signal, which governs shunting movements = and is the=20 equivalent of the old semaphore ground signal. There is however a = signalled move=20 for the train to reverse into the Manchester-bound platform at = Greenbank, from=20 where departure would be under the authority of a full-height signal. = This=20 should therefore be allowed by Her Majesty=92s Railway Inspectorate. The = train=20 would fill what is currently a very long gap in services from Greenbank = to=20 Manchester between 08.29 and 10.25. A copy of the new pocket timetable = for the=20 mid-Cheshire line may be enclosed with this newsletter.

MCRUA OBJECTIVES

A meeting of the MCRUA committee on Monday 16th May agreed on two = main=20 objectives for the Association. These are:

  1. Improved Rail Services in the Mid-Cheshire and South-West Greater=20 Manchester areas.=20
  2. Greater Usage of Local Rail Services.
We would be = interested in=20 members=92 comments on these objectives and how they can be achieved. = Members may=20 wish to suggest sub-objectives. Please send any comments to Andrew = Macfarlane=20 (contact details on back page) by 20th June. We plan to adopt the = objectives at=20 the forthcoming AGM.=20

MCRUA COMMITTEE NEWS

David Muskett and John Oates have resigned as Committee = Members. We thank them for their contribution to the association=92s = work. John=20 Oates in particular had been a committee member since 1988. He will be a = hard=20 act to follow as Treasurer but if any member would like to consider = taking on=20 this important role please contact Andrew Macfarlane by 20th June. = MCRUA=92s=20 webmaster Robin Polack is seriously ill and we regret that the = MCRUA=20 website is currently not being updated.

THE STEAM TRAIN AND THE TWO AVONS EXPRESS

This year=92s mid-Cheshire line steam train is described in detail in = John=20 Kitchen=92s report but suffice to say that the train was heavily = over-subscribed=20 and thoroughly enjoyed by all those who went on it. Northern Rail Area = Director=20 David Godley was unfortunately left behind at Knutsford when a newspaper = photographer insisted on taking his picture on the opposite platform but = happily=20 David was able to join the train at Northwich, where a ceremony took = place to=20 mark the renovation of the station building. The MCRUA special train = from=20 Altrincham to Bath, Salisbury and Eastleigh on Saturday 14th May also = ran well=20 behind locomotive no. 67022. We unfortunately left 4 people behind at = Salisbury=20 (it=92s obviously becoming a habit!) but happily they got back home OK = by service=20 trains for no extra charge. A booking form is enclosed with this = newsletter for=20 the association=92s next special train, The North Yorkshire Moors = Express, to=20 York, Malton (for a coach link to the North Yorkshire Moors Railway) and = Scarborough on Saturday 8th October. This train is being run jointly = with the=20 Ffestiniog Railway Dee and Mersey Group and the Chester Model Railway = Club.

NEWS FROM THE FRIENDS OF ALTRINCHAM INTERCHANGE (FoAI)

The FoAI have recently been collecting signatures on a petition to be = presented to GMPTE calling for the glass to be reinstated in the canopy = above=20 platform 1 at Altrincham (the main Metrolink platform). Customer = Information=20 Screens are to be installed at Altrincham station under a =A3370m = Strategic=20 Rail Authority programme to improve access at stations. The next meeting = of the=20 FoAI is on Monday 13th June at the Altrincham Baptist Church, Hale Road=20 (opposite its junction with Oxford Road), starting at 7.30pm. MCRUA = members are=20 welcome.

NEWS FROM HARTFORD AND WINSFORD

The normal timetable from Hartford and Winsford was reinstated as = from Monday=20 28th March following the renewal of the Rest Day Working agreement = between ASLEF=20 and Central Trains. MCRUA put out a press release to inform the = travelling=20 public of this. There is unfortunately now doubt over the promised=20 Birmingham-Hartford-Preston service and only one Central Trains = service=20 will operate on that route in the summer timetable (a 16.51 Monday to = Friday=20 Birmingham-Preston service). Network Rail has apparently encountered = difficulty=20 in pathing the new service on the West Coast main line and there is now = talk of=20 the new Siemens class 350 Desiro electric trains being used on the=20 Manchester-Birmingham service in place of the Voyager trains. MCRUA will = continue to press for a service from Hartford northwards along the West = Coast=20 main line. The next meeting of MCRUA=92s Hartford and Winsford = Sub-Committee is at=20 the Red Lion, 277 Chester Road, Hartford, on Thursday 23rd June, = starting at=20 7.45pm. All MCRUA members are welcome to attend.

GOOD TRAIN SERVICE PERFORMANCE CONTINUES
TIME NOW FOR =93STICKING = TO THE=20 KNITTING=94 by MCRUA Quality Improvement Team (QIT) member, John = Oates

I am writing this on 24 May. The service at the moment is running = well. The=20 latest statistics available for the line for the 4 weeks to 30 April = (Period 1)=20 show reliability (trains running) as 99.1% (target 99%) and punctuality = (trains=20 arriving within 5 minutes of timetabled time) of 90.2%. The target for=20 punctuality was previously 90%, though was raised to 91% when Northern = took over=20 last December. The moving annual average is less than that for period 1, = and is=20 improving. Overall performance is good and dramatically better than a = few years=20 ago. The QIT is not for sitting back and congratulating itself, though! = The hard=20 bit now is keeping the performance this good, and indeed improving on = it. The=20 two major disruption factors in Period 1 were further problems with the=20 signalling for the single line section between Mouldsworth and Mickle = Trafford=20 and the overbridge at Lostock Gralam (bridge 54) again being hit by = lorries,=20 causing that part of the line to be closed for up to 2-3 hours awaiting = a bridge=20 inspector.

As regards the single line, Network Rail has a plan for resignalling = the=20 section some time in 2006. The QIT is awaiting more details, so it can = assess=20 whether this will overcome the current problems. These relate to the = type of=20 track circuiting in use being very susceptible to failure when = electrical storms=20 are about (and indeed, in our experience, a lot of other things as = well!) This=20 failed yet again last Sunday afternoon, but was fixed within an hour or = so. On=20 bridge 54, Cheshire County Council as the road authority has some = responsibility=20 for correct signage. Currently Network Rail is assessing whether the = signage is=20 as good as it could/should be. The QIT will have sight of the report = following=20 this assessment. We will then take a view on whether further measures = could be=20 brought in. Quite what these may be remains to be seen, but any ideas = would be=20 appreciated. The other main problem appears to be the regular power = supply=20 failure to Greenbank signal box. This seems to happen for a variety of = reasons=20 from power blips on the grid locally, to rats eating the supply cables. = This=20 latter tends to be terminal for the rats involved, but since there are a = lot of=20 them, it keeps happening. Network Rail is also considering what could be = done to=20 reduce / stop these incidents.

The method for producing the detailed statistics of individual trains = has=20 been changed. At the moment, we do not have the level of information we = used to=20 have to allow us to easily see which trains are losing time and where. = We are=20 assured this will be reinstated shortly. Thus, we know which trains are=20 performing less well, but find it hard to pinpoint where, and through = this, why.=20 Nevertheless, the poor performers are good compared to previous years. = It=92s just=20 we want to make them better! A number of =93quick fixes=94 were carried = out in=20 February / March, one of which has had a very beneficial effect. The = signaller=20 at Edgeley Junction at the Stockport end of the single line section from = Northenden is now able to find out how our train is progressing on the = single=20 line. Thus, the signaller can set up the route such that we often now = proceed=20 into Stockport without stopping. Before, it was most usual for us to be = stopped=20 at Edgeley Junction and then restarted a few minutes later.

This =93quick fix=94 appears to have rescued since the end of = February one of the=20 worst runners on the line, the 06.57 from Chester. This service is = formed of one=20 of the bus-bodied class 142 Pacer trains and regularly carries more = people than=20 it has seats between Northwich and Altrincham. The resulting delays have = been=20 causing it to arrive late into Stockport and then be further delayed = having=20 =93lost its path=94. The extra couple of minutes saved by the quick fix = has sorted=20 this for most days, though often not on Mondays when the train is = particularly=20 heavily loaded and the conductor is also attempting to sell weekly = tickets. From=20 the timetable change in June this train will at our request cease to = call at=20 Heaton Chapel and Levenshulme. This should help, but only if the train = manages=20 to get onto the main line at Edgeley Junction within a couple of minutes = of=20 time.

Another =93quick fix=94 is the decision to put manual train reporting = into TRUST=20 (the train progress monitoring system) at Mobberley signal box, bridging = the gap=20 between Deansgate Junction (near Navigation Road) and Greenbank. All the = wiring,=20 including road works were carried out in March, though at the time of = writing=20 the equipment had yet to be delivered and installed. This fix was = share-funded=20 by Network Rail and Northern Rail. Confusion continues at Chester as to = whether=20 the Chester-based drivers employed by Arriva Trains Wales (ATW) are = allowed to=20 help out when required. It seems ATW Control think they are, but the = drivers=20 think they aren=92t! Hopefully, David Godley, the newly-arrived Area = Director=20 (West) will have a go at getting this resolved, once he has his feet = properly=20 under the table, since this often really helps when things get disrupted = at=20 Chester (e.g. units requiring fuel, turning on the triangle due to = defects,=20 getting out of the yard that Piccadilly drivers don=92t =93sign=94 and = starting up for=20 frost precautions). As regards planned replacement buses, the latest = version of=20 the plan, version 5, has been accepted and adopted. There is still some = tweaking=20 required, including agreeing a method of getting passengers from the = railway=20 platforms onto the replacement bus, when they think they are waiting for = a=20 train! Watch this space on this.

There are a few other initiatives to report. Knutsford is to have its = RJIS=20 (Rail Journey Information System) reinstated from next Wednesday after a = period=20 of about two years without it. This means the booking office will again = be able=20 to make seat reservations, as well as check how closely to time trains = are=20 running. There is also a plan to introduce this system at Northwich in = the not=20 that distant future. We are still trying to get the Manchester-bound = trains in=20 the evening to be at the same standard departure times as those during = the day.=20 At present they run 4 minutes earlier from 17.57, regularly catching = passengers=20 out (including my wife!) and causing upset and aggravation. This is = especially=20 the case when the 20.57 is just missed and the next train is 1 hour and = 48=20 minutes later!! Hopefully, we will be able to get this = uncustomer-focussed=20 situation resolved from next December. We should know more at the next = meeting=20 in July. Overall, though, things are going very well. As David Franks, a = previous managing director once said, it=92s now all about =93sticking = to the=20 knitting=94.

MID-CHESHIRE COMMUNITY RAIL PARTNERSHIP REPORT by John Kitchen

Partnership Funding

The Community Rail Partnership is still trying to secure funds for = the=20 continuation of the Partnership following the end of the initial tranche = of=20 funding. From contact with our colleagues in Lancashire it seems likely = that the=20 North West Development Agency will fund partnership work, but are = unlikely to=20 fund the Partnership=92s revenue costs (i.e. salaries and office costs) = =96 this=20 presents the Partnership with a problem which will be addressed at the = next=20 Partnership meeting. The demise of the Countryside Agency has affected = all Rural=20 Transport Partnerships =96 not least ACoRP, which received the bulk of = its funding=20 from the Countryside Agency. They have been able to replace their = funding from a=20 range of agencies and we will have to do the same.

Northern Developments

Northern is now well established with its franchise and restructuring = is=20 proceeding apace. This has meant considerable change in various parts of = the=20 organisation with associated changes in personnel and departmental = locations. It=20 is now clear that a major presence will remain in Manchester with = Bridgewater=20 House as a regional centre. We were very pleased to welcome David Godley = =96=20 Northern=92s Area Director - on the Rail Day on 1st of May. We look = forward to=20 working with David and his team in the future. A recent piece of news is = that=20 our station manager Adrian Barkley is retaining his responsibilities. A = scheme=20 to provide litter bins at stations is in the process of being undertaken = as a=20 joint venture between the Partnership and Northern.

Northwich Station

The refurbishment of Northwich station is now substantially complete = with the=20 booking office end complete. Plans are now being laid for the occupancy = of the=20 Vale Royal end of the building and the involvement of the community. = Opening on=20 current form should be around the end of June or early July. It is hoped = that=20 following completion the surroundings of the station can be brought up = to a good=20 standard. Various developments are also planned for better integration = of public=20 transport in the area and providing services to travellers on the = station for=20 longer than the current single shift operation.

Rail Day

The major spring event for the Partnership was, of course, a repeat = of the=20 Rail Day on 1st of May. The event was an even bigger success than last = year in=20 terms of the number of passengers carried and press coverage with both = the=20 Manchester Evening News and the BBC covering the event in the North = West, as=20 well as the local press. The event has a very high local profile and = promotes=20 the line in a unique and very visible way. A particularly desirable = aspect of=20 this years operation was the presence of so many young families =96 = these are the=20 people we must reach, they are the future of rail travel and the mid = Cheshire in=20 particular. The railway industry has commended the event at all levels = and we=20 had guests from Northern/Network Rail/SRA and West Coast who operated = the train=20 for us. They recognised the difficulties of operating a ten-coach train = on our=20 line and the organisational challenges involved. I am pleased to say = that all of=20 them commended our operation with one being moved to say that they were = working=20 with the =93A team=94. This is a tremendous tribute to all the MCRUA = volunteers who=20 managed such things on the day as embarking 500 people in less than five = minutes=20 at Altrincham in the morning.

Operationally, the day was also a success where despite the train = turning up=20 15 minutes late in the morning (recovered by shortening the Northwich = stop) it=20 subsequently ran on time all day. 45407 performed admirably with a = ten-coach=20 load including the support coach and we still did not have enough = capacity to=20 satisfy all comers! This, however, is the limit for even a Black 5 =96 = despite the=20 popular perception of Cheshire being flat, our line is, in fact, quite = severely=20 graded and any poorer climatic conditions (drizzle between Mouldsworth = and=20 Delamere for example) would cause risks with any greater load. Ian Riley = =96 the=20 owner of 45407 =96 assures me that the job is as hard as anything on the = main line=20 with all the starts and presents a real challenge for the crew.

Financially, we more or less balanced the books this year =96 if you = ignore all=20 the voluntary effort that went into the organisation and operation of = the event.=20 On a personal note I would like to thank all the volunteers who = supported us on=20 the day and Andrew Macfarlane. He managed the entire back office = operations of=20 enquiries/bookings/ticketing/seating plans/etc. without which the event = could=20 not have taken place. The couriers were superb in managing the crowds = and=20 ensuring as far as possible that our passengers had a good time. One = final thank=20 you and specific mention, unsung but vital Les Hopwood, both this year = and last,=20 ensured that the train was kept free of rubbish, a vital piece of the = jigsaw. He=20 was specifically mentioned to me on three separate occasions during the = day and=20 particularly by West Coast who were extremely grateful to have the train = returned in the condition that it arrived!

Railfilms Release

The release of the Railfilms production =93Along Cheshire Lines=94 is = now=20 imminent. Having seen a preview copy of the film I can wholeheartedly = say that=20 the film is one of the best railway films I have seen =96 looking at the = line as a=20 service to Cheshire. For enthusiasts there are separate sections of the=20 programme covering freight traffic and steam special trains. It will = give the=20 Partnership a unique marketing tool and will put us right at the = forefront of=20 the Rail Partnership community. At =A310.00 it is very reasonably priced = and I=20 would commend the film to all MCRUA members. I intend to use the film to = promote=20 the line and its attractions at various locations in the future. It also = forms=20 an ideal companion to the Cheshire Lines Cab Ride released earlier this = year.=20

ANOTHER CHESHIRE LINES DVD FROM RAILFILMS

As John Kitchen mentions in his report, a new DVD about the = mid-Cheshire line=20 entitled Along Cheshire Lines will soon be available. The 63-minute DVD = includes=20 archive footage from the steam era and also footage of the mid-Cheshire = line=20 steam trains in both 2004 and 2005. Present day passenger and freight = operations=20 and places of interest along the line are also covered in detail. If you = would=20 like a copy of the DVD please send =A310 plus =A31.50 postage and = packing to=20 Telerail, 9a New Street, Carnforth, Lancashire LA5 9BX or telephone = 01524-735774=20 and quote your credit or debit card number. Orders can also be placed on = the=20 Railfilms website at www.railfilms.com.

NEWS FROM THE LINE

The barrow crossing between platforms 3 and 4 at Altrincham had been=20 reinstated by 24th March and was used on the Mid-Cheshire Rail Day on = 1st May.=20 GMPTE is looking into the possibility of submitting a Major Scheme bid = to the=20 Departnent for Transport for a new public transport interchange at = Stockport.=20 This would be centred on the present bus station site and would include=20 provision for Metrolink. There would be much-improved links with the = railway=20 station. There is now a later bus at 18.35 on Monday to Saturday (except = Bank=20 Holidays) on the 289 bus route from Altrincham to Northwich via=20 Knutsford. The route is now operated by Swans Travel. There will = again be=20 buses from Knutsford, Hartford and Northwich stations to the Cheshire = Show at Tabley on Tuesday and Wednesday 21st and 22nd June. There = will also=20 again be free buses from Altrincham station (bus station side) and from = the=20 Knutsford entrance to Tatton Park to the RHS Flower Show at Tatton = Park=20 from Wednesday 20th July to Sunday 24th July. As usual, the Wednesday is = for RHS=20 members only. The Saturday 19th March Railway Touring Company steam = special=20 from Cleethorpes to Chester via the mid-Cheshire line was in the = event=20 hauled by =93Black Five=94 45407 The Lancashire Fusilier rather than = former LNER B1=20 locomotive No. 61264. Also the train was diverted to run via Diggle and=20 Stockport due to the Hope Valley route being blocked by engineering = work.

FREIGHT NEWS

The flyash traffic to Oakleigh Sidings, Winnington, in = connection with=20 the Northwich Salt Mine Stabilisation scheme began running directly from = Drax=20 Power Station in Yorkshire as from 24th April. The train is however now = usually=20 routed in both directions via Manchester Victoria, Warrington Bank Quay = and the=20 Hartford LNW/CLC curve. The lease on the Barton Containerbase = near the=20 Trafford Centre expires in 2011 and Peel Holdings, the owners of the = site, wish=20 to extend the Trafford Centre over the site of the Containerbase. One=20 alternative site for the rail-served container terminal is the proposed = =93Port=20 Salford=94 site alongside the Manchester Ship Canal near the Barton M60 = motorway=20 bridge. This would entail the construction of a branch line off the = =93Chat Moss=94=20 Manchester-Liverpool line to the west of Patricroft. A triangular = junction is=20 envisaged, which would enable trains to enter the site from either the=20 Warrington or Manchester directions.

MIDDLEWICH CAMPAIGN REPORT

Cheshire County Council is proposing to hold a meeting of interested = parties=20 to discuss how to take forward the Middlewich line reopening scheme. The = next=20 meeting of the Middlewich & West Cheshire Committee of MCRUA is on = Tuesday=20 28th June at the usual venue of the Boar=92s Head on Kinderton Street in = Middlewich, starting at 7.45pm. All members are welcome to attend.

METROLINK NEWS

We understand that there is to be a decision =93soon=94 on the = =A3102m upgrade=20 scheme for Metrolink Phase 1 (the Bury and Altrincham lines). The = current plan=20 for the Phase 3 extensions (Rochdale via Oldham, Ashton and Manchester = Airport)=20 appears to be to build one line at a time. Work is well under way on=20 construction of a =A336m Metrolink stop and bridge over the = Manchester-Rochdale=20 direct line at Central Park, near to Thorpes Bridge Junction, Newton = Heath.=20 Metrolink vehicle 1015 (ironically the =93Get our Metrolink back on = Track=94 overall=20 advert) was out of service for 12 weeks following its derailment on = Auburn=20 Street near Piccadilly station on 11th January. Vehicle 1008 was back in = service=20 after overhaul by 25th April and 1013 was back in service by 29th April. = Work on=20 the enlarged car park at Navigation Road was finally scheduled to start = on 6th=20 June. The possibility of a new Metrolink station at Abraham Moss, = between=20 Woodlands Road and Crumpsall, is being investigated but funding for the = new=20 station is not currently available.

Some Metrolink fares including cheap day returns, singles and = Metromax (day=20 and weekend rover) fares increased as from Sunday 27th February.=20 Altrincham-Manchester is now =A33.10 single and =A33.30 cheap day = return. The=20 off-peak Metromax fare is now =A33.40 (child =A31.60). The off-peak = concessionary=20 fares are now 60p single and =A31.10 return. These fares are only = available to=20 GMPTE concessionary pass holders. GMPTE concessionary pass holders pay = half=20 fare on Metrolink before 09.30 on Monday to Friday and they do this = by using=20 the child button. If making a return journey starting before = 09.30, it is=20 best to buy a half single on the outward leg and then to pay 60p on the = return=20 journey. It would be useful if this information was publicised to the = general=20 public. Metrolink ticket machines do not take copper coins but members = are=20 reminded that through tickets are available from any National Rail = station to=20 any Metrolink station.

FARES NEWS

Chris Kimberley, the Commercial Director of Northern Rail, informed = the MCRUA=20 public meeting in Knutsford on 30th March that Northern Rail intends to = make the=20 Metrolink Altrincham line a part of the National Rail network for = ticketing=20 purposes. This is now possible due to Serco=92s involvement in both = Northern Rail=20 and Metrolink. MCRUA welcomes this move, which would extend the present = Sundays=20 only arrangement to 7 days a week. It would end the nonsense of tickets = between=20 the mid-Cheshire line and Manchester only being valid via one route = (either=20 Stockport or Metrolink) and passengers would have the freedom to return = from=20 Manchester by whichever route they liked.

The popular Wayfarer ticket went up in price as from 30th April. The = new=20 prices are: Adult =A38, Concessionary (children aged 5 to 15 and anyone = aged 60 or=20 over. Proof of age may be required) =A34, Weekend Adult (consecutive = Saturday and=20 Sunday) =A311.50 and Group (up to 4 persons, no more than 2 of whom are = adults)=20 =A315. Virgin Trains continues to offer unrestricted travel to = any National=20 Railcard holder with a Saver return ticket. This means that railcard = holders can=20 purchase a Saver return ticket at the usual 34% discount and then travel = on ANY=20 Virgin train at any time of day. The current (until 11th June) Saver = return fare=20 from Manchester, Altrincham, Knutsford, Northwich and Chester to London = is =A355=20 and the Saver return fare from Crewe to London is =A350. The Saver = return is a=20 walk-on ticket, which can be purchased from the booking office on the = day of=20 travel and does not need to be booked in advance. The return = journey can=20 be made up to a month after the outward journey. As members may well = have heard,=20 free off-peak local bus travel is to be made available for = pensioners and=20 disabled people from April 2006.

LOCAL RAIL NEWS

The weekly Stockport-Stalybridge passenger train becomes a = 16.15=20 Fridays Only Stalybridge-Stockport service from the start of the = summer=20 timetable. The 08.25 Saturdays Only Chester-Runcorn (main line = station)=20 service via the Frodsham Junction-Halton Junction =93Halton curve=94 = again runs this=20 summer. The useful Arriva Trains Wales (ATW) Manchester = Piccadilly-Penzance=20 through service is unfortunately to cease in December 2005, the date = when=20 ATW introduces its =93clockface=94 timetable. There are some very = reasonable fares=20 on this service (examples in the Fares Manual valid until 11th June 2005 = are =A334=20 Apex return from Manchester to Exeter and =A338 Apex return from = Manchester to=20 Plymouth). A problem has been encountered with the proposed drop-in = doctor=92s=20 surgery at Manchester Piccadilly in that there is currently = nowhere=20 on the concourse, which is both available and large enough to = accommodate it. As=20 mentioned in the previous newsletter Crewe Locomotive Worksis to = hold an=20 Open Weekend on Saturday and Sunday 10th and 11th September. Grand=20 Central=92sproposal for a York-Manchester Victoria-Chester service = via the=20 Calder Valley route has unfortunately been abandoned. The main building = at the=20 unstaffed Woodley station is currently being renovated in = preparation for=20 an alternative use.

JOIN RAILFUTURE, THE NATIONAL CAMPAIGNING BODY FOR RAIL USERS

Railfuture is the only national, voluntary body which campaigns for = more=20 investment in the national rail network. Railfuture would like to see = many more=20 new trains and new stations and a rolling programme of main line=20 electrification. Any proposals for service reductions or line closures = will be=20 vigorously opposed by Railfuture. The benefits of Railfuture membership = include=20 a quality magazine Railwatch four times a year and also the North West = branch=20 newsletter (which is also of high quality!). Railfuture members are also = invited=20 to attend regular conferences and branch meetings (held every two months = in the=20 North West). Subscription rates are: =A318 individual, =A318 family = (plus =A32 per=20 extra person), =A310 pensioner/student/unwaged. To join, please send = your name,=20 address, postcode, telephone number and email address (if any) and a = cheque made=20 payable to =91Railfuture=92 to The Membership Secretary, 6 Carral Close, = Lincoln,=20 LN5 9BD.

COACH TRIP TO THE BALA LAKE RAILWAY AND THE LLANGOLLEN RAILWAY

The Altrincham Electric Railway Preservation Society=92s autumn coach = trip is=20 this year running to the Bala Lake Railway and the Llangollen Railway = steam gala=20 on Sunday 18th September. Full details will be available nearer the date = from=20 David Walton on 0161-928-4112.

A WARM WELCOME TO ALL OUR NEW MEMBERS

The following people or companies have joined MCRUA since the = previous issue=20 of the newsletter was published:
Mr A W Wills, Marple
Mr A J = Hilton,=20 Timperley
Mr Michael Lenz, Rudheath, Northwich
Mr John Dennis = Smith,=20 Castletown, Isle of Man
Mr Clive Biddick and Mrs Vivien Kenyon,=20 Timperley
Mr Ian Frank, Northwich
Mr John Pedrick, = Keighley
Ashley=20 & Dumville Limited, Knutsford

We welcome back the following rejoined family member:
Mr Chris = Proudfoot=20 and Ms Jill West, Norley, Frodsham

We very much regret to record the deaths of MCRUA members Stephen=20 Williamson of Altrincham (on 20th May) and Patsy Calton, the = recently=20 re-elected MP for Cheadle (Greater Manchester), on Sunday 29th May.

A subscription renewal reminder is enclosed with this newsletter if = you have=20 not yet renewed for 2005.

MID-CHESHIRE LINE PEOPLE

MCRUA member and long-serving former railway employee Peter = Michie of=20 Altrincham has recently had a spell in hospital. We wish him a speedy = and=20 complete recovery. We send our congratulations to MCRUA member Doug = Darby=20 of Sale, who celebrated his 90th birthday on 1st June.

DISCLAIMER

Opinions expressed in this newsletter do not necessarily reflect the = views of=20 the MCRUA committee.

USEFUL PHONE NUMBERS

National Rail Enquiries - 08457 48 49 50 (24 hours a day)
The = Trainline=20 (bookings by telephone) - 08457 222 333
Freephone number to report = crime on=20 the railway - 0800 40 50 40
Northern Train Running Information -=20 0800-528-0200 or 0870 602 33 22
Helpline for Manchester Piccadilly = station -=20 0845 0000 033
GMPTE Bus, Rail and Metrolink Enquiries - 0161 228 7811 = (08.00=20 to 20.00)
Metrolink Enquiries - 0161 205 2000
Cheshire Traveline = - 01244=20 602666 (08.00 to 20.00)
Merseyside PTE Public Transport Enquiry Line = -=20 0151-236-7676 (08.00 to 20.00)
National Public Transport Enquiry = Line - 0870=20 608 2 608
Rail Passengers Committee for North Western England - 0870 = 336=20 6095

YOUR COMMITTEE MEMBERS

EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN AND NEWSLETTER EDITOR:
Andrew Macfarlane 25 = Prestbury=20 Avenue, Timperley, Altrincham WA15 8HY. Tel: 0161-928-939
MEMBERSHIP = SECRETARY
John Allen, 36 Townfields, Knutsford, Cheshire WA16 8DR. = Tel:=20 01565-632437.
MINUTES SECRETARY
Peter Frier, 2 Hawthorn Road, = Plumley,=20 Knutsford WA16 OUH.Tel: 01565-722140.
COMMITTEE = MEMBERS
Peter=20 Davies, 53 Acacia Avenue, Hale, Altrincham, Cheshire, WA15 8QY. Tel:=20 0161-233-0438
David Miller 16 Primrose Hill, Cuddington, Northwich, = Cheshire,=20 CW8 2TZ. Tel: 01606-888093
Arthur Sancto 8 Roxby Way, Knutsford, = Cheshire,=20 WA16 9AX. Tel: 01565-651209.
Nora Gleave 35 Navigation Road, = Altrincham,=20 Cheshire, WA14 1LN. Tel: 0161-941-6204.
Mike Honeyman 36 Navigation = Road,=20 Northwich, Cheshire, CW8 1BE. Tel: 01606-74920
Middlewich & West = Cheshire Sub-Committee Chairman: Dave Roberts, 5 Whitley Close, = Middlewich, CW10=20 0NQ. Tel: 01606-833404 (home), 07900-194975 (mobile).
Hartford & = Winsford Sub-Committee
Chairman: Andrew Macfarlane (details = above).
MCRUA=20 QIT representative:
John Oates =94Swallowfield", Slade Lane, = Mobberley,=20 Knutsford.
Tel: 01565-873059 (home), 07860-513309 (mobile) WA16 7QN. =

MID CHESHIRE COMMUNITY RAIL PARTNERSHIP OFFICER

John Kitchen Mobile number: 07909-872667; E-mail address:=20 jkitchen@valeroyal.gov.uk.

Membership of the association costs =A34 for individuals, =A36 for = families and=20 =A312 for corporate bodies.
If you wish to join please return the = form below=20 to MCRUA, 25 Prestbury Avenue, Timperley, Altrincham WA15 8HY. Please = make=20 cheques payable to "Mid Cheshire Rail Users Association".
Please = send any=20 subscription renewals to John Allen, 36 Townfields, Knutsford, WA16 = 8DR.

Name=20 ________________________________________________
Address______________= _________________________________
____________________________________= __________________
06/05=20 __________________________Postcode_______________
Family/Individual* = New=20 Member/Renewal*
Please delete as appropriate

This edition converted by Arthur Sancto, 18th April 2006. =