Chorlton-cum-Hardy railway station
Encyclopedia
Chorlton Metrolink station is a Manchester Metrolink
station built on the former Cheshire Lines Committee
line. The station is one of the first stations opened as part of Phase 3A of the Big Bang extension plans and is built on the site of the former railway station. The Metrolink station opened on 7 July 2011.
, though the line remained open to freight until the 1980s. Until the mid-20th century the station yard supplied coal to the district. Land to the north-east of the track originally acquired for the purpose of doubling it was eventually sold off for development.
Chorlton station was mentioned in the 1964 song "Slow Train
" by Flanders and Swann
, which was written to lament the loss of stations during the Beeching cuts:
Chorlton station was subsequently demolished and a Morrisons
(originally Safeway
) supermarket and car-park built in its place. The track bed itself remained extant to the side of the supermarket: indeed one of the platforms survived next to the Supermarket building. The trackbed leaving the site in the direction of the former Alexandra Park railway station
and Fallowfield railway station beyond the junction was converted to a cycle path managed by Sustrans
, whilst northwards the way had become overgrown.
In 2006, it was announced that the first phase of the "Big Bang" Metrolink expansion project (Phase 3A) would go ahead, including the extension of the network as far St Werburgh's Road. Following the rejection of the Greater Manchester Transport Innovation Fund in a public referendum in 2008, extension of the line as East Didsbury (Phase 3B) will now go ahead with funding from national and local government.
Construction of the line began in April 2009 and the new line became operational in July 2011.
and St Werburgh's Road running every 12 minutes Monday-Saturdays and Sunday daytime and every 15 minutes Sunday early mornings and evenings. Service will increase from 12 minutes to 6 minutes once the line to Central Park
, Oldham Mumps and Rochdale
opens. Services will extend from St Werburgh's Road to East Didsbury in 2013 and additional services will run between the city centre and Manchester Airport in 2016.
Manchester Metrolink
Metrolink is a light rail system in Greater Manchester, England. It consists of four lines which converge in Manchester city centre and terminate in Bury, Altrincham, Eccles and Chorlton-cum-Hardy. The system is owned by Transport for Greater Manchester and operated under contract by RATP Group...
station built on the former Cheshire Lines Committee
Cheshire Lines Committee
The Cheshire Lines Committee was the second largest joint railway in Great Britain, with 143 route miles. Despite its name, approximately 55% of its system was in Lancashire. In its publicity material it was often styled as the Cheshire Lines Railway...
line. The station is one of the first stations opened as part of Phase 3A of the Big Bang extension plans and is built on the site of the former railway station. The Metrolink station opened on 7 July 2011.
Railway station
The station opened as Chorlton-cum-Hardy on 1 January 1880 and closed on 2 January 1967 as part of the Beeching AxeBeeching Axe
The Beeching Axe or the Beeching Cuts are informal names for the British Government's attempt in the 1960s to reduce the cost of running British Railways, the nationalised railway system in the United Kingdom. The name is that of the main author of The Reshaping of British Railways, Dr Richard...
, though the line remained open to freight until the 1980s. Until the mid-20th century the station yard supplied coal to the district. Land to the north-east of the track originally acquired for the purpose of doubling it was eventually sold off for development.
Chorlton station was mentioned in the 1964 song "Slow Train
Slow Train
"Slow Train" is a song by the British duo Flanders and Swann, written in 1963.It laments the loss of British stations and railway lines in that era, due to the Beeching cuts, and also the passing of a way of life, with the advent of motorways etc....
" by Flanders and Swann
Flanders and Swann
The British duo Flanders and Swann were the actor and singer Michael Flanders and the composer, pianist and linguist Donald Swann , who collaborated in writing and performing comic songs....
, which was written to lament the loss of stations during the Beeching cuts:
Chorlton station was subsequently demolished and a Morrisons
Morrisons
Wm Morrison Supermarkets plc is the fourth largest chain of supermarkets in the United Kingdom, headquartered in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. The company is usually referred to and is branded as Morrisons formerly Morrison's, and it is part of the FTSE 100 Index of companies...
(originally Safeway
Safeway (UK)
Safeway was a chain of supermarkets and convenience stores in the United Kingdom. It started as a subsidiary of the American Safeway Inc., before being sold off in 1987....
) supermarket and car-park built in its place. The track bed itself remained extant to the side of the supermarket: indeed one of the platforms survived next to the Supermarket building. The trackbed leaving the site in the direction of the former Alexandra Park railway station
Alexandra Park railway station
Wilbraham Road railway station was a station on the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway line from Manchester Central via Chorlton-cum-Hardy to Fairfield and Guide Bridge. It was situated near the junction of Alexandra Road South with Mauldeth Road West...
and Fallowfield railway station beyond the junction was converted to a cycle path managed by Sustrans
Sustrans
Sustrans is a British charity to promote sustainable transport. The charity is currently working on a number of practical projects to encourage people to walk, cycle and use public transport, to give people the choice of "travelling in ways that benefit their health and the environment"...
, whilst northwards the way had become overgrown.
Manchester Metrolink station
Proposals to link Chorlton to a light rail system have been put forward since the 1980s, but remained unfunded until recently. The line extension which was originally proposed would take over the disused tracks of the Cheshire Lines Committee as far as East Didsbury.In 2006, it was announced that the first phase of the "Big Bang" Metrolink expansion project (Phase 3A) would go ahead, including the extension of the network as far St Werburgh's Road. Following the rejection of the Greater Manchester Transport Innovation Fund in a public referendum in 2008, extension of the line as East Didsbury (Phase 3B) will now go ahead with funding from national and local government.
Construction of the line began in April 2009 and the new line became operational in July 2011.
Services
Chorlton is located on the South Manchester Line with trams towards VictoriaManchester Victoria station
Manchester Victoria station in Manchester, England is the city's second largest mainline railway station. It is also a Metrolink station, one of eight within the City Zone...
and St Werburgh's Road running every 12 minutes Monday-Saturdays and Sunday daytime and every 15 minutes Sunday early mornings and evenings. Service will increase from 12 minutes to 6 minutes once the line to Central Park
Central Park Metrolink station
Central Park Metrolink Station is a future station on the Metrolink light rail network in the Newton Heath area of the City of Manchester, in Greater Manchester, England. The station was constructed in 2005 but is currently unused...
, Oldham Mumps and Rochdale
Rochdale railway station
Rochdale railway station serves the town of Rochdale in Greater Manchester, England. The Manchester and Leeds Railway opened a station serving the town in the 19th century...
opens. Services will extend from St Werburgh's Road to East Didsbury in 2013 and additional services will run between the city centre and Manchester Airport in 2016.
External links
- Manchester Metrolink Extension Project - map of the plans (Urban Transport Technology)
- Chorlton-cum-Hardy railway station in Disused Stations database