Mid Cheshire Line hit with another problem in two trains an hour bid

Arriva – which runs the Northern network – made the pledge for a second train an hour on the Mid Cheshire Line when it was awarded the franchise in 2015.

But in the years since, passengers between Chester and Manchester have been faced with delay after delay in seeing the promise be fulfilled.

And now a signalling issue at Mickle Trafford, near Chester, is the latest reason given for the project being thrown into doubt – with Northern insisting that no solution can currently be found due to infrastructure challenges.

“When Northern committed to introducing this service it was a key factor in them being awarded the Mid Cheshire Line franchise in the first place in 2015,” said Mike Amesbury, Labour MP for Weaver Vale.

“They went into this situation with their eyes wide open.

“But ever since then, all we’ve had is delays and excuses.

“Commuters in my constituency have had enough and they want rail bosses to get a grip of this situation and deliver what was promised.”

Transport for the North revealed last October that ‘pathing issues’ at Stockport meant there would not be enough capacity to run a second Chester to Manchester service an hour.

It was hoped that the new service could at least run as far as Altrincham instead.

However, a similar signalling issue at Mickle Trafford now means that hopes for a second train an hour appear slim at best.

A new report published by consultants WSP, which considers rail connectivity in mid Cheshire, said: “A number of rail industry stakeholders are unsure about the deliverability of the proposed second service on current infrastructure, due to capacity constraints at Mickle Trafford junction – north east of Chester – and Stockport station/ Edgeley junction.

“An alternative service – Chester to Altrincham has been proposed but this also can’t be delivered.”

Along with Mr Amesbury, Esther McVey, Conservative MP for Tatton, has spent the past two years pushing rail bosses to live up to their commitment for a second train an hour on the Mid Cheshire Line.

“I am disappointed to read the conclusions in this report,” she said.

“I will be continuing to lobby for the second train an hour from Knutsford as was agreed when Northern bid for the franchise.

“At no point did Network Rail suggest that it wouldn’t be possible.”

Northern originally promised a second train an hour by December 2017.

Delays to other improvement works across the country meant this was pushed back to May 2018, when a major timetable overhaul led to widespread disruption.

And passengers were left frustrated again earlier this year, as May’s timetable change also failed to include the new service.

A spokesman for Northern said: “We have worked extensively with Network Rail to provide the additional services but due to capacity constraints and safety issues on the network, a solution cannot be found at present.”