Manchester (Central) - Cornbrook West Jct.
Date Closed to Passenger Services
5 May 1969
Mileage Closed
1m 16c
Stations Closed
Services Operated
Manchester (Central) - Warrington (Central)/Liverpool (Lime St.)/Chester (Northgate)
Manchester (Central) - Sheffield (Midland)
Manchester (Central) - Guide Bridge via Fallowfield
Timetable Reference
BR (LM) 6 May 68 - 4 May 69 Tables 96, 97, 115 & 117
Cobb Atlas Reference
370 83 97 - 82 96
Map
RCH RJD 47 1910
Further Notes
The closure of Manchester (Central) and the associated lines (Throstle Nest East Jct. - New Mills South Jct.; Chorlton Jct. - Fairfield Jct.; Heaton Mersey Jct. - Romiley Jct.) was a drawn out affair.
From 02/01/1967 the service from Manchester (Central) - Cheadle Heath was withdrawn and the intermediate stations closed. Also closed was Stockport (Tiviot Dale) with Manchester (Central) - Derby locals being routed via Cheadle Heath and Hope Valley services running from Piccadilly, which left Heaton Mersey Jct. - Romiley Jct. effectively closed to passenger services. This contradicted the decision to approve changes to these services that would, it was stated, not result in any line closures. The legality of the closure was in doubt, but it seems to have gone unchallenged. See BLN 73 11/01/1967 p4 for a full account.
From 01/01/1968 the remaining express services were diverted from Manchester (Central) to Manchester (Piccadilly). This left the regular services to Warrington (Central), Liverpool (Lime St.) and Chester (Northgate) and a rump of a service south, comprising a couple of SuO trains between Liverpool (Lime St.) and Sheffield (Midland) via Manchester (Central) and one each way to Guide Bridge via the Fallowfield Loop.
The originally intended closure date of June 1968 did not happen and final closure is recorded as Mon 05/05/1969. As LTR Saturday 03/05/1969 and a Sunday service was operating at the time, strictly speaking the ACD should be Sun 04/05/1969.
Page updated: 20/12/2021