From: Subject: Mid Cheshire Rail Report No.69 Date: Mon, 17 Nov 2008 22:00:38 -0000 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="Windows-1252" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Location: http://www.mcrua.org.uk/mcrr69.htm X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.5579 Mid Cheshire Rail Report No.69

MID CHESHIRE
RAIL REPORT

No.=20 69            = ;            =        AUTUMN=20 2006           &nb= sp;           &nbs= p;       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-Winsford-Hartford-Liverpool Lines.

Visit our website at www.mcrua.org.uk. Firstly an apology that this = issue of=20 the newsletter has been delayed. We decided to defer publication until = details=20 of the December timetable were available. We hope that you think that = the=20 newsletter has been worth waiting for!

NETWORK RAIL DRAFT ROUTE UTILISATION STRATEGY IS A CAUSE FOR = CONCERN

Network Rail has recently published its North West Route Utilisation = Strategy=20 Draft for Consultation. The document outlines how Network Rail plans to = cater=20 for the increase in demand for rail travel across the North West. = Overcrowding=20 is a serious issue on many routes and the easiest way to provide more = capacity=20 in the short term is to run longer trains providing that appraisal = criteria are=20 met. There are a number of proposals for the Mid-Cheshire line, = including the=20 following: A second train each off-peak hour between Altrincham and = Northwich.=20 Terminating all trains from Chester at Stockport (this would probably = require a=20 new bay platform). A skip stop service to improve journey times between = major=20 stations coupled with increased line speeds. Reduce the length of the = Edgeley to=20 Northenden single line and higher line speed on this section.

The document says that the additional Altrincham-Northwich train = could be=20 provided with existing rolling stock if the service terminated at = Stockport (a=20 classic case of robbing Peter to pay Paul!). However the proposal for an = additional Altrincham-Northwich train =93appears unlikely to meet = appraisal=20 criteria=94. The document recommends that the proposal to terminate the = service at=20 Stockport should be developed further when the 2008 West Coast Main Line = timetable is known =93but the cost of the infrastructure or the impact = on=20 performance [if the bay platform is not provided] makes the case = unlikely to be=20 positive=94. The proposal for a skip stop service (i.e. alternate trains = not=20 calling at all stations) is likely to be included in the strategy. MCRUA = will be=20 making its views known on this in the light of the complete failure of = the=20 previous bout of =93skip stopping=94 in 1989-90. On the proposal to = reduce the=20 length of the Edgeley-Northenden single line, the document says that = this should=20 be excluded from the strategy as it =93does not appear to constitute = value for=20 money=94. If only double track had been retained when the motorways were = built in=20 the early 1970s! There are further sections, which include items = relevant to the=20 mid-Cheshire line. Under =93Planned switch & crossing and signalling = renewal=20 schemes [by 2016] with enhancement potential=94 is the following: = =93Northwich and=20 Greenbank signal renewals =96 Improve line speed and allow the = freight-only=20 platform at Northwich to be used by passenger trains, also allow = turnbacks at=20 Greenbank in the platform. Allows a new service to run from Crewe to = Northwich=94.=20 These are certainly welcome proposals. Also under =93Potential = enhancement=20 schemes=94 is the following: =93Manchester Piccadilly platform 0 = (conversion of=20 stabling siding [behind platform 1] into a platform). Recommendation =96 = develop=20 further when the 2008 West Coast Main Line timetable is known=94. MCRUA = will be=20 making a comprehensive response to the document, which can be viewed on = the=20 Network Rail website at www.networkrail.co.uk.

WINTER TIMETABLE

The national (and European) winter rail timetable begins on Sunday = 10th=20 December. There are a few changes to the service on the mid-Cheshire = line. What=20 becomes the 07.39 from Manchester Piccadilly to Chester starts back from = Blackpool North and will therefore now depart from platform 13 rather = than from=20 the main station. It remains to be seen what effect this change will = have on the=20 performance of this important service but it will offer new through = journey=20 opportunities for commuters. The 17.58 SX from Manchester Piccadilly to = Chester=20 is retimed to depart at 17.53 to improve the train=92s pathing on the=20 Edgeley-Northenden single line. The standard off-peak departure time = from=20 Chester becomes 05 past the hour. The Northwich-Blackpool North service = departs=20 at 09.33 in the winter timetable and so Wayfarer tickets will again be=20 officially valid on this train from Northwich. The 17.56 Chester to = Manchester=20 Piccadilly will call additionally at Heaton Chapel and Levenshulme. = Saturday=20 overcrowding should no longer feature from 16th December with the = resumption of=20 the Saturday Chester-Warrington-Manchester rail service. The new pocket=20 timetable is hopefully enclosed with this newsletter and the new = National Rail=20 Timetable book will be on sale from WH Smith outlets at stations (for = the=20 penultimate time).

COMMENTS BY THE CHAIRMAN by John Oates

As most of your know, either from our AGM, or from my letter = circulated in=20 late August / early September with the railtour booking form, I was very = privileged to take over the chairmanship of MCRUA from 13 July. Quite a=20 challenge given what MCRUA has achieved over the last 19 years. I=92m = pleased to=20 state we made a very good start at considering our future strategy in a = meeting=20 towards the end of August. We seem to have a lot of enthusiasm within = our=20 re-invigorated committee of 12 members, and I=92m looking forward to our = next=20 committee meeting in early October, when we=92ll be taking forward the = ideas we=20 came up with at the strategy meeting. Meanwhile, as you=92ll pick up = from=20 elsewhere in this Rail Report, there=92s plenty going on, from the = mini-railtour,=20 to activities with the Community Rail Partnership ably run by John = Kitchen, to=20 closer working with local communities and the local press. If there are = areas=20 that you think we should try to influence, please let me or our = secretary,=20 Arthur Sancto, know. And if by chance you=92d like to help, possibly in = one of our=20 small groups around each of our stations, or possibly even on the = committee (we=20 have one place vacant), please again let me or Arthur know. After our = early=20 October meeting, we=92ll be starting to put together clear plans about = what we are=20 looking to achieve and how we intend to do it. There=92s plenty to be = done, from=20 improving the trains, to filling them up, influencing improvements at = stations,=20 closer working with Metrolink, and much more. We have a very able = committee, and=20 we=92re all looking forward to future achievements. John Oates 19 = September 2006.=20

FROM THE SECRETARY=92S DESK by Arthur Sancto

As members will know from the letter our new Chairman John Oates = wrote in=20 August, the Annual General Meeting this year produced some changes to = the=20 committee as well as the new chairman being elected on the narrowest of=20 majorities. As he says, we do have a full committee but we also are = mindful that=20 we could do with female representation and for a greater presence from = the=20 Hartford and Winsford area and the western end of the line generally. = There are=20 plenty of opportunities if you want to help MCRUA; just contact me! The = other=20 significant issue that the meeting made obvious is our constitution is = in need=20 of updating. I have been charged with carrying out this task. It is = therefore my=20 intention to produce a draft revised constitution for discussion by the=20 committee at our first committee meeting in the New Year and that the = proposed=20 amendments will be voted on by members at the 2007 Annual General = meeting. A=20 number of members have already made comments on amendments they would = like to=20 see made. I am grateful to the members who have sent them. There is = still time=20 before Christmas if you wish to propose changes to the constitution. = Would you=20 please write or e-mail them to me saying what you believe the revised = wording=20 should be and, just as important, the objectives of the change. I can = say that=20 all your comments will be carefully considered, but cannot promise they = will be=20 included in the amendments to be put to members at the AGM. That said, = you will=20 of course still have the opportunity to speak during that discussion. If = you=20 want to see the existing constitution, it is given on the = =91Membership=92 page of=20 our website www.mcrua.org.uk. If you do not have access to the internet, = I can=20 supply a copy of the existing constitution if you write to me. If you do = it=20 would help if you also supply a stamped, addressed envelope.

THE MID-CHESHIRE DALESMAN - SUNDAY 29TH OCTOBER 2006 by Andrew=20 Macfarlane

It is pleasing to report that the MCRUA autumn special train to = Carlisle via=20 the Settle & Carlisle line on Sunday 29th October was a great = success,=20 helped by superb weather on the day. We=92d like to place on record our = thanks to=20 Northern Rail for providing two class 156 =93SuperSprinter=94 trains = (and for=20 charging a very reasonable price!). As far as we are aware it was the = first=20 charter train which Northern has operated for an outside organisation. = There was=20 some confusion at Chester station as to which platform the train would = depart=20 from (the information system managed to show the train as departing from = both=20 platform 4 and platform 6!) but we managed to rescue most of those who = had opted=20 for the =93other=94 platform. Interestingly, a family group of three = Russians joined=20 the train at Manchester Piccadilly because the information system had = told them=20 that our train was a service train. They were on their way to St Bees = (where=20 their daughter was at school) via Carlisle. A group from the Friends of = the=20 Settle-Carlisle Line joined the train at Settle with a sales stand and = their=20 Chairman, Mark Rand, also did good business selling Settle & = Carlisle line=20 guides along the train. 44 passengers opted for the guided walk at = Ribblehead=20 and made the most of the glorious weather. MCRUA has made a donation of = =A3150 to=20 the Settle & Carlisle Railway Trust in recognition of the services = rendered=20 by the four volunteer guides at Ribblehead. Those who had done the walk = were=20 able to use a service train to reach Appleby for no extra charge and = joined the=20 return special train there. Those passengers who opted to go to Carlisle = had=20 just over two hours to enjoy the delights of the Border City before the = return=20 journey. Arrival back into Chester was 10 minutes late at 20.49 and many = passengers said how much they had enjoyed the day. I=92d like to thank = all those=20 who helped on the train on the day, namely Frank Needham, Paul Kennedy, = Les=20 Hopwood, John Hill, David Miller, Malcolm Roughley and our caterers = Rolling=20 Riot. We have received a number of comments to the effect that the train = was=20 well organised. The reason why we went for multiple-unit rolling stock = rather=20 than a locomotive-hauled train was to save money as autumn trips tend = not to be=20 as well supported as those on the spring.

MCRUA=92s SPRING SPECIAL TRAIN

MCRUA=92s spring special train will be running from Altrincham to = Cardiff via=20 the scenic Heart of Wales line with the return leg being via Hereford = and=20 Shrewsbury on Saturday 12th May 2007. The train will be = locomotive-hauled with=20 both first and standard class seating and a buffet car. A booking form = will be=20 sent to all MCRUA members and to all those on our wider mailing list = early in=20 the New Year.

WAYFARER TOURS

MCRUA Newsletter Editor Andrew Macfarlane has set up a company to = market=20 seats on special trains operating from the North West of England. He is=20 currently selling seats on the Kingfisher Railtours special train from=20 Wolverhampton to Edinburgh (for a 4-hour stopover) on Saturday 9th = December. The=20 train picks up at Stoke-on-Trent, Macclesfield (08.05 approx), Stockport = (08.20=20 approx), Manchester Piccadilly (08.40 approx), Bolton, Chorley and = Preston.=20 First and standard class accommodation is available (in early Mark II = coaches=20 with opening windows) and there will be a buffet car in the train, which = will be=20 hauled by a class 67 diesel locomotive. Fares are =A349 standard class = and =A369=20 first class. Please contact Andrew if you would like a booking form = (contact=20 details on the back page).

NEWS FROM THE FRIENDS OF ALTRINCHAM INTERCHANGE (FoAI)

Work began to provide a temporary cover on the platform 1 canopy on = 6th=20 November. The cover will be galvanised steel with 20% being translucent = panels=20 and the work is due to be finished in mid-December. All trams are = currently=20 using platform 2, which of course actually makes for better interchange = from the=20 mid-Cheshire line. Members are reminded that through tickets (including = 7-day=20 season tickets) are available from any National Rail station to any = Metrolink=20 station. Only if you have a railcard do you need to buy separate tickets = for the=20 two legs of the journey. Representations were made about the poor = signing of the=20 alternative route from the booking office/ticket machines to platform 2 = avoiding=20 the footbridge stairs. The route is through the bus station, through the = gate=20 off the path to Moss Lane bridge and around the buffer stops. Some = improvements=20 were made to the signage of the route but the signs are still not large = or=20 prominent. The Friends are trying to get litter bins installed on = platforms 2=20 and 3 and they are also trying to get contractors ISS to improve the = cleaning of=20 platform 1. The Friends are hoping to gain access to the track to clear = litter=20 in platforms 1 and 2 during the planned shutdown of Metrolink for the = relaying=20 of some of the track in July and August 2007. A welcome new Passenger=20 Information System has been installed on platforms 3 and 4 with a = monitor in the=20 booking hall and information screens at the south end of platform 1 and = on the=20 wall behind platform 4. These new screens have improved information = provision at=20 Altrincham but there is still scope for improvement. The screens say = =93Welcome to=20 Altringham station=94 and have done ever since they were installed and = they could=20 also indicate where rail replacement buses go from (i.e. the car park = behind=20 platform 4). The screens could also indicate that four stations on the = line are=20 request stops.

NEWS FROM HARTFORD AND WINSFORD

The service to be provided under the new West Midlands franchise has = now been=20 finalised by the Department of Transport and the good news is that there = will be=20 two trains per hour between Liverpool and Birmingham rather than just = one.=20 However the planned new semi-fast service from London Euston using class = 350=20 Desiro trains will not now venture north of Crewe. MTR (the Hong Kong = Mass=20 Transit Railway) has pulled out of the bidding for the West Midlands = franchise=20 leaving just two bidders in the frame, GoVia and Serco NedRailways (the=20 operators of Northern). The new franchise begins on 11th November = 2007.

MID-CHESHIRE RAILWAYS EXHIBITION by John Hulme

22nd January 2007 sees the launch at the Salt Museum, Northwich of=20 Underneath the Arches, a four month temporary exhibition = of=20 Mid-Cheshire Railways. With its own gallery and cinema, the exhibition = will=20 explore the history of the local Cheshire Lines and the history of = today,=20 including MCRUA. Entrance to the exhibition is free and will provide a = unique=20 opportunity to view local railway memorabilia, photos and cinema show. = Further=20 details from the Salt Museum on Northwich (01606) 41331 or by emailing=20 cheshiremuseums@cheshire.gov.uk.

THE BAGGIN MAN TAKES THE TRAIN by John Hulme

The Baggin Man takes the Train, a FREE full-colour book = telling=20 the story of the Cheshire Best Kept Station Competition, featuring 12=20 watercolours by Bernice Barrett-Brown, can now be ordered direct from=20 www.cheshirerail.org. This 32 page book, published by Vale Royal = Borough=20 Council, has some wonderful paintings of the Mid-Cheshire Line including = our=20 Black Five Steam Special crossing the Trent and Mersey Canal at Lostock. = Be sure=20 to order one for your relatives to promote the line!

TRAIN SERVICE PERFORMANCE CONTINUES TO BE GOOD =96 FINGERS CROSSED = FOR THE=20 =93LEAF FALL SEASON=94! by MCRUA Quality Improvement Team (QIT) member, = John=20 Oates

I am writing this on 19 September. The train service is running well. = There=20 continue to be occasional hiccups, but anyone delayed for more than 10 = minutes=20 has been unlucky. The main concentration at the moment is on the run up = to the=20 =93leaf fall season=94. This is the time of the year when the juicy = leaves fall off=20 the trees, land on the track, the trains run over them, the leaves turn = into a=20 very slippery mulch, and then the trains slide very badly if nothing is = done=20 about it. This year, the =93leaf fall train=94, called the Rail Head = Treatment Train=20 (RHTT), is also to run on Sunday evenings/Monday mornings, as well as on = the=20 following 5 days. This should mean Monday morning services should be = much better=20 than last year, when Tuesdays to Saturdays worked well, but Mondays were = often=20 terrible. This is costing Network Rail a lot more money than last year, = but they=20 think it=92s worth it to improve train timekeeping. For those who are = new to this,=20 the RHTT sprays ordinary water at high pressure onto the rails, clearing = off the=20 leaf mulch. For areas particularly badly affected, on our line this = tends to be=20 Mouldsworth up the hill to Delamere, and Cuddington, Knutsford and Hale=20 stations, =93Sandite=94, a sort of sand-based gunge, is applied by staff = on the=20 ground wearing a bottle on their back with an applicator in their hand. = So for=20 those of you who thought this was a rocket pack, a new form of rail = travel, now=20 you know. Meanwhile, when we do occasionally have buses replacing trains = on a=20 planned basis, despite all our and Northern=92s best efforts, the last = occasion=20 still went wrong, with buses calling at the wrong places and getting = lost. We=20 have had a high level meeting about this with the contractor who = organised the=20 buses last time. They have promised to do much better next time [and did = so =96=20 Ed]. Goodness knows what Northern will do if it goes wrong again! I = wouldn=92t=20 like to be the bus contractor if it does, the lady in charge at Northern = is very=20 determined. Basically, it had better be good!! The QIT continues to = closely=20 monitor the service. Meanwhile, please continue to feed your train = performance=20 experiences, good and bad to me (address at the back of this Rail = Report).

MID-CHESHIRE COMMUNITY RAIL PARTNERSHIP REPORT by John Kitchen

NEWS FROM THE LINE

Passengers who park their car at Knutsford station now get = =A31.50 off=20 their =A32.50 car parking fee back when they buy their train ticket. The = class 142=20 Pacer units had reliability problems in the summer due to the heat. A = solution=20 was found to the problem, which should prevent its recurrence next = summer. There=20 has been serious overcrowding on many Saturday trains throughout the = autumn due=20 to there not being a rail service on the Chester-Warrington-Manchester = line due=20 to engineering work on the West Coast main line and Chester-Manchester=20 passengers using our service instead. Network Rail has not allowed = Arriva Trains=20 Wales to divert any of their services via our line on Saturdays due to a = lack of=20 paths between Stockport and Piccadilly (because of other trains diverted = off the=20 West Coast Main Line!). Northern claim that they have no spare trains = with which=20 to strengthen our service and that overcrowding on other lines (they = don=92t say=20 which) is worse. The overcrowding on our line has sometimes been so bad = that=20 passengers have been left behind at stations. It would help if Northern = made=20 sure that the three-person seats on the Pacers were occupied by three = people=20 rather than two. The new 6-screen cinema at Altrincham is to open = on 8th=20 December. The cinema is on Denmark Street, on the west side of the line = just=20 south of Altrincham station and can be reached via the path under Moss = Lane=20 bridge and then by walking through the new housing development on the = site of=20 the former carriage sidings. A new passenger information system was = being=20 installed at Stockport station in November. Mouldsworth is = no=20 longer a request stop on a permanent basis.

FREIGHT NEWS

The planned reopening of the line from Skelton Junction (Timperley) = to=20 Partington has unfortunately been cancelled after Nova Chemicals closed = their=20 plant at Carrington in October. The Dowlow-Northenden stone train still = operates=20 sporadically (at least twice in August).

METROLINK NEWS

The Department for Transport announced funding for a =93Little = Bang=94 of=20 Metrolink extensions on 6th July (also known as Phase 3a). These will be = to=20 Rochdale via Oldham (largely on the existing rail alignment), Droylsden = (mainly=20 on street) and St Werburgh=92s Road (Chorlton). The Chorlton line is the = first=20 part of the proposed line to Manchester Airport and East = Didsbury/Stockport and=20 will branch off the Altrincham line just south of Trafford Bar station. = The line=20 from Chorlton will use the existing disused railway bridge to pass under = the=20 Altrincham line before curving round to join the Manchester-bound line = before=20 Trafford Bar station. The new depot at Old Trafford is also part of the = Phase 3a=20 package. Construction work on the extensions is due to start in 2008 for = completion in 2011. Serco have lost the operating contract for Metrolink = as from=20 1stApril 2007. Keolis and Stagecoach (the operators of Sheffield = Supertram) have=20 been shortlisted for the new 10-year operating concession. They are also = to be=20 asked to bid for a complete package including the maintenance of the=20 infrastructure. The Bury line is to be closed in stages for the relaying = of all=20 of the track from May to September 2007. The Altrincham line will be = closed for=20 the relaying of some sections of track in July and August 2007. = Replacement=20 buses will be provided and efforts continue to have the mid-Cheshire = line=20 service strengthened during this period. The 08.11 and 08.23 departures = from=20 Altrincham to Bury are scheduled to be operated by a =93double unit=94 = (i.e. two=20 trams coupled together) on Monday to Friday.

FARES NEWS

Passenger Focus has produced a useful booklet entitled =938 Ways of = Saving=20 Money When Using Virgin Trains=94. Copies can be obtained from Julie = Warburton at=20 julie.warburton@passengerfocus.org.uk. Virgin Trains intoduced =93Print = at Home=94=20 tickets as from 18th September. These are available on a limited number = of=20 routes including Manchester-London and =A39 single fares are available = on off-peak=20 trains. Details are available at www.virgintrains.co.uk and=20 www.thetrainline.com.. Megatrain fares continue to be = available=20 between Manchester, Oxenholme, Carlisle, Glasgow and Edinburgh on Monday = to=20 Friday only. Details can be found at www.megatrain.com. Fares range from = =A31 to=20 =A310 single plus 50p booking fee and are available on the 09.58 to = Glasgow and=20 later trains from Manchester. Please make the most of these cheap fares = as they=20 are unlikely to continue to be available after First Trans-Pennine = Express takes=20 over the route in December 2007. The Altrincham-Chester Duo return = fare=20 (for two people travelling together) is now =A314.50. There is no credit = card=20 charge if you buy tickets from the GNER website (www.gner.co.uk). = Central=20 Trains are to make their Central Value fares available for single = journeys=20 only as from 2nd January so that passengers can mix and match. The = Scotrail call=20 centre at Fort William is recommended for buying advance purchase = tickets for=20 the entire British rail network. The number to call is 0845 605 7021. =

LOCAL RAIL NEWS

Irlam is to have an hourly Sunday service from the December = timetable=20 change. Also Mossley and Greenfield are to have a = two-hourly=20 Sunday service from December by the extension of the = Liverpool-Stalybridge=20 Sunday service to Huddersfield. Trains will depart at 18 minutes past = even hours=20 from Manchester Victoria. The new class 185 trains are to operate the = Manchester=20 Airport-Blackpool North service from the December timetable change.=20 Trans-Pennine Express is to take over the Manchester-Glasgow/Edinburgh = service=20 as from December 2007. The service will start from Manchester Airport = from that=20 date. The Liverpool-Norwich service is confirmed as safe under the new = East=20 Midlands franchise. The service will not now serve Cambridge but may = serve=20 Liverpool South Parkway station in the future. The proposed=20 Manchester-Birmingham semi-fast service with class 350 Desiro trains = will not=20 now happen (therefore the Manchester-Macclesfield local service will = presumably=20 stay with Northern). The new London Euston-Crewe hourly semi-fast = service will=20 serve Stone, Stoke, Kidsgrove and Alsager. Platforms are to be replaced = at=20 Burnage and Gatley stations over the next few months (each will be = closed for 6=20 to 8 weeks). The junction at Wilmslow and the crossovers at = Alderley=20 Edge are to be brought into use at the end of January with train = services=20 (Manchester Airport-Crewe and Alderley Edge turnbacks) recommencing from = the=20 first Sunday in March. The junctions at Sandbach will be commissioned = later. A=20 serious fire at Guide Bridge station on 22nd October severly = damaged the=20 footbridge, which is to be demolished. Network Rail has offered a = =A32,000 reward=20 for information leading to the arrest of those responsible. Work is to = start on=20 the construction of the new third platform at Manchester Airport = station=20 in June 2007. The platform is due to be used from the December 2008 = timetable=20 change. A recent study into the possible reopening of Beeston = Castle=20 station on the Crewe-Chester line unfortunately found that usage would = be=20 insufficient to justify the cost of construction. Engineering work is = due to=20 take place at Castlefield Junction (west of Deansgate) from 23 to 28 = December=20 2006. Some trains from Liverpool will terminate at Eccles and Urmston = with=20 Bolton line services diverted to Manchester Victoria. Styal = station=20 unfortunately lost most of its train service from 10th September. = Northern is=20 only obliged to provide a skeleton service at the station.

BUSES SERVING GREENBANK, HARTFORD AND CUDDINGTON by David = Miller

School service D6 has been withdrawn. No notice has been given but = the=20 service was something of a secret anyway. Nevertheless, the loss of the = 08.06=20 from Delamere Park to Northwich means the first bus from there is now = 10.05.=20 Commencing 30 October, there have been additional buses on route 82B: = 06.40 from=20 Vicars Cross, Littleton Lane End calling at Hartford Station at 07.06, = Greenbank=20 Station 07.10 and Northwich Bus Station 07.15, and 18.45 from Northwich, = calling=20 at Greenbank 18.51 and Hartford 18.54, to Vicars Cross. The 82, 82A and = 82B now=20 are the only buses serving Hartford Station, so this is a welcome = improvement,=20 although connections with trains sometimes involve a long wait. On = Saturdays=20 until 23 December there is a free bus (route 300) from Stockport = Station=20 every 10 minutes from 09.00 to 17.00 which follows a circular route via = the bus=20 station, main shopping centres, Peel Centre and Tesco.

ALTRINCHAM WINTER LECTURE SERIES

The Altrincham Electric Railway Preservation Society is again holding = its=20 annual winter lecture series at Altrincham Methodist Church on the = corner of=20 Barrington Road and Woodlands Road (5 minutes=92 walk from Altrincham = station in=20 the direction of Manchester) on the second Friday of the month at = 7.30pm.=20 Admission (which includes free tea/coffee and biscuits) is =A33 (free = for AERPS=20 members). The remaining talks in the current season are:
8th = December 2006=20 =93Steam in North Wales=94 by Bob Miller (scenes taken in the last 15 = years).=20
12th January 2007 =93Mid & North Wales in the late 1960s=94 by = Bill Chapman.=20
9th February 2007 =93Tales from the Booking Office=94 by Arnold = Chadwick.=20
9th March 2007 =93In Search of Steam in Germany=94 by John Hobbs. =
13th April=20 2007 =93Everywhere but England=94 by Bob Avery.

8E RAILWAY ASSOCIATION

Our good friends at the 8E Railway Association continue to meet on = the second=20 Tuesday of the month at the Gladstone Club, off Station Road, Northwich = (5=20 minutes=92 walk from Northwich station) at 7.45 for 8 o=92clock. = Non-members are=20 welcome and forthcoming meetings are: 12th December 2006 Annual General = Meeting.=20 9th January 2007 PSOV (Preserved Steam on Video). 13th February 2007 = Film of=20 pre-1968 main line steam by Colin White of B & R Video.

UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER TRANSPORT SEMINARS

These continue to take place at the Cordingly Lecture Theatre in the=20 Architecture & Planning Building on Wednesdays at 17.30. Admission = is free=20 and is open to all. The remaining programme for this season is:
6th = December=20 2006 =94The Concessionary Travel Market=94 by Eileen Hill, Director, = MVA.
31st=20 January 2007 =93Accessibility Planning=94 by Roy Macdonald of Greater = Manchester=20 PTE.
28th February 2007 =93Changing Rail Travel Demand=94 by Gerard = Whelan, ITS,=20 University of Leeds.
21st March 2007 =93Climate Change=94 by Don = Mathew of=20 SUSTRANS.
18th April 2007 =93The Use of Roadspace=94 by Jim Coates = of the=20 Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport.

STEPHENSON LOCOMOTIVE SOCIETY MEETINGS IN MANCHESTER

The SLS continues to meet on certain winter Saturdays at the = Friends=92 Meeting=20 House, 6 Mount Street, Manchester (on the other side of the Central = Library from=20 St Peters Square Metrolink station) at 2pm. Non-members are welcome and=20 forthcoming meetings are:
2nd December 2006 =93Robert Stephenson: = The Mania=20 Years=94 by Dr Michael Bailey.
20th January 2007 Area AGM followed = by =93The=20 Narrow Gauge Railways of Sardinia=94 by John Owen.
24th February = 2007 =9345=20 Years along the Fylde Coast Line=94 by Peter Fitton.
17th March 2007 = =93The LNWR=20 8-coupled Engines=94 by Ted Talbot.

A WARM WELCOME TO OUR NEW MEMBERS

The following people have joined MCRUA since the previous issue of = the=20 newsletter was published: Mr David Hughes, Tattenhall, Chester
Mr = Howard=20 Sutcliffe, Chester
Mr W Lund, Wilmslow
Mr Richard Sandland,=20 Hartford
Rick and Linda Carsberg-Davis, Knutsford

MCRUA member Arthur Yeadon from Timperley died in June. MCRUA member = Arthur=20 Wong from Congleton sadly died on 7th August. Longstanding MCRUA member = Mr D B=20 Purslow from Davenham died in late August. MCRUA member Raymond Hughes = from Hale=20 sadly died on 16th October. Andrew Macfarlane represented MCRUA at his = funeral=20 at St Margaret=92s Church in Altrincham on 27th October.

MID-CHESHIRE LINE PEOPLE

We welcome John Archer to one of the railmen=92s jobs on = platform 4 at=20 Altrincham. Chris Mulligan has retired from the position of = Director=20 General of Greater Manchester PTE due to ill health. David = Leather is the=20 interim Director General. John Kitchen is leaving his position as = the=20 Community Rail Officer for the Mid-Cheshire line to take up a job as = Rail=20 Officer for Cumbria County Council. We thank John for his achievements = and we=20 wish him well in his new appointment.

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
Network Rail (to report infrastructure = faults):=20 08457 11 41 41.
Northern Rail Train Running Information : = 0800-528-0200 or=20 0870 602 33 22
Northern Rail Customer Relations: 0845 600 11 = 59
Passenger=20 Focus (complaints appeals): 08453 022 022
Helpline for Manchester = Piccadilly=20 station: 0845 0000 033
GMPTE Bus, Rail and Metrolink Enquiries: 0161 = 228 7811=20 (08.00 to 20.00)
Metrolink Enquiries: 0161 205 2000
Cheshire = Traveline=20 (bus and rail enquiries): 01244 602666 (08.00 to 20.00)
Merseyside = PTE=20 Public Transport Enquiry Line: 0151-236-7676 (08.00 to 20.00) =
National=20 Public Transport Enquiry Line: 0870 608 2 608

YOUR COMMITTEE MEMBERS

CHAIRMAN - John Oates, =93Swallowfield=94, Slade Lane, Mobberley, = Knutsford,=20 Cheshire, WA16 7QN. Tel: 01565-873059 (home), 07860-513309 (mobile)=20
VICE-CHAIRMAN - Mike Honeyman, 36 Navigation Road, Northwich, = Cheshire, CW8=20 1BE, Tel: 01606-74920.
SECRETARY & WEBMASTER - Arthur Sancto, 8 = Roxby=20 Way, Knutsford, Cheshire, WA16 9AX. Tel: 01565-651209.
TREASURER - = John=20 Hanson, 4 Stelfox Avenue, Timperley, Altrincham, Cheshire, WA15 6UL. = Tel:=20 0161-283-3384.
NEWSLETTER EDITOR - Andrew Macfarlane, 25 Prestbury = Avenue,=20 Timperley, Altrincham WA15 8HY. Tel: 0161-928-9394.
MEMBERSHIP = SECRETARY -=20 Peter Davies, 53 Acacia Avenue, Hale, Altrincham, WA15 8QY. Tel: = 0161-928-2203.=20
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
John Hill, Glenferry, Plumley Moor Road, = Plumley,=20 Knutsford, Cheshire, WA16 0TR. Tel: 01565-722423.
Malcolm Roughley, = Flat 2,=20 The Battens, 72 Stamford Road, Bowdon, Altrincham, Cheshire, WA14 2JG. = Tel:=20 0161-929-5030.
John Hulme, Brow Cottage, Leighs Brow, Barnton, = Northwich,=20 Cheshire, CW8 4HT. Tel 01606-76092.
David Miller, 16 Primrose Hill,=20 Cuddington, Northwich, Cheshire, CW8 2TZ. Tel: 01606-888093.=20
SUB-COMMITTEES
Middlewich & West Cheshire = Sub-Committee.=20 Chairman: Dave Roberts, 5 Whitley Close, Middlewich, CW10 0NQ. Tel: = 01606-833404=20 (home), 07900-194975 (mobile).
Hartford & Winsford Sub-Committee. = Please=20 contact David Miller (for contact details see above).
MCRUA QIT=20 REPRESENTATIVE John Oates (for contact details see above)
MID = CHESHIRE COMMUNITY RAIL PARTNERSHIP OFFICER - John Kitchen

MEMBERSHIP OF THE ASSOCIATION

Membership is welcomed from individuals, families and organisations. = Please=20 see membership page http://www.mcrua.org.uk/m= embership.htm=20 for details of how to join the Association together with the current=20 subscription rates.

AES070208