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Post by zerps on Jul 25, 2020 9:04:14 GMT
Has anyone had a letter from the house of commons (Jo Gideon) saying that they’re looking to reopen the line for the first time since the 1950’s?
There’s an online petition apparently.
It goes on to say that they’ll potentially open stations at Milton, Birches head and Bucknall.
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Post by thevoid on Jul 25, 2020 9:12:08 GMT
That would be handy. I can be on a train and in Macc within 15 minutes so a similar scenario for Leek would be ace.
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Post by thehartshillbadger on Jul 25, 2020 9:17:22 GMT
Sounds good to me
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Post by spiderpuss on Jul 25, 2020 9:29:10 GMT
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Post by spiderpuss on Jul 25, 2020 9:54:45 GMT
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Post by mrcoke on Jul 25, 2020 10:26:58 GMT
Choo choo! That's not a bad idea. Get a steam locomotive and there will be 100s of volunteers wanting to work on the line. " Puffer Billy, Puffer Billy went to Stoke,When he cam back, he had no smoke"That's one from my childhood. |
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Post by Cast no shadow on Jul 25, 2020 10:40:07 GMT
Wouldn't hold ya breath, Stoke never gets a look in. Extra £600m to help the North has just been granted with a hefty part of that being spent on Manchester to Leeds.
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Post by misterj on Jul 25, 2020 12:46:16 GMT
Yeah like Manchester + Leeds need any more money spending on them.... you’re right, we’re seen as very poor relations? 🤷🏼♂️
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Post by richie22 on Jul 25, 2020 14:46:44 GMT
I hope to god this happens, am I right in saying the track is still largely intact , I think freight stopped using it in 88, but a class 37 took some coaching stock up it in 1994. It will be great to get a big heritage operation running from stoke station upto the churnet
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Post by misterj on Jul 25, 2020 14:58:57 GMT
Definitely!!
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Post by nicholasjalcock on Jul 25, 2020 15:06:10 GMT
I think it is a great shame that Leek isn’t connected into the mainline system. The government has relaxed the rules on project feasibility which effectively means money losing projects can still go ahead? However, much of this is grandstanding by the Tory MPs yet again! They’re all fur coat and no knickers?!
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Post by Dutchpeter on Jul 25, 2020 15:20:35 GMT
I believe the line is classed as ‘mothballed’ not shut and therefore may be easier to open. I think there was goods trains using the line in the late 1980s. I can imagine many residents by the line, particularly those in Brown Edge or Endon might not be best pleased about a potential opening. Leek might also prefer to link up to Macclesfield instead (and therefore Manchester), it certainly may be more economically attractive.
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Post by nicholasjalcock on Jul 25, 2020 15:27:18 GMT
I believe the line is classed as ‘mothballed’ not shut and therefore may be easier to open. I think there was goods trains using the line in the late 1980s. I can imagine many residents by the line, particularly those in Brown Edge or Endon might not be best pleased about a potential opening. Leek might also prefer to link up to Macclesfield instead (and therefore Manchester), it certainly may be more economically attractive. I think it was quarried stone not goods? The track from what I could see of it is has deteriorated since then? To add to that, trains leave Stoke station every ten minutes so a rebuild of Stoke station or major alteration could be needed to accommodate the extra traffic? |
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Post by Dutchpeter on Jul 25, 2020 15:31:54 GMT
I believe the line is classed as ‘mothballed’ not shut and therefore may be easier to open. I think there was goods trains using the line in the late 1980s. I can imagine many residents by the line, particularly those in Brown Edge or Endon might not be best pleased about a potential opening. Leek might also prefer to link up to Macclesfield instead (and therefore Manchester), it certainly may be more economically attractive. I think it was quarried stone not goods? The track from what I could see of it is has deteriorated since then? To add to that, trains leave Stoke station every ten minutes so a rebuild of Stoke station or major alteration could be needed to accommodate the extra traffic? If Boris Johnson is serious about levelling out the country, then it’s about time North Staffordshire had some infrastructure projects like this to boost the local economy and environmental sustainability etc. |
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Post by spiderpuss on Jul 25, 2020 15:58:43 GMT
I think it was quarried stone not goods? The track from what I could see of it is has deteriorated since then? To add to that, trains leave Stoke station every ten minutes so a rebuild of Stoke station or major alteration could be needed to accommodate the extra traffic? If Boris Johnson is serious about levelling out the country, then it’s about time North Staffordshire had some infrastructure projects like this to boost the local economy and environmental sustainability etc. It is, the area never really gets much money and the last proper infra change was the removal of roundabouts on the D road. This story seems to do the rounds every 5 years in a similar way to "Trams in S-O-T" one that the Sentinel seems to run every 5 years. I won't hold my breath, but I have signed the petition. |
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Post by lordb on Jul 25, 2020 16:43:54 GMT
Stoke and the area generally has never had any money spent on it.
Safe Labour seats for a century so Tory govts saw that as a waste and Labour govts felt they didn't need to bother as they got the votes anyway
What has changed is that those safe Labour seats are now Tory marginals
If these seats can switch back and forth over the next few elections then politicians will see the area as worth spending on.
Sad indictment of parliamentary democracy but there you go
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Post by nicholasjalcock on Jul 25, 2020 17:28:40 GMT
Stoke and the area generally has never had any money spent on it. Safe Labour seats for a century so Tory govts saw that as a waste and Labour govts felt they didn't need to bother as they got the votes anyway What has changed is that those safe Labour seats are now Tory marginals If these seats can switch back and forth over the next few elections then politicians will see the area as worth spending on. Sad indictment of parliamentary democracy but there you go I think you’ll find that the local government settlement under Labour massively favoured Stoke and other poor areas. This settlement was reversed by the Tories with affluent areas getting a big boost to spending at poor areas expense! I live in a poor London borough and our council’s budget has been slashed by the Tories! You’ve got to look at Stoke Sixth Form College, the two unis ,Royal Stoke Hospital and spending on education to see how much money was spent in the area!The big complaint is that the 19th century industrial base wasn’t replaced? But by what? And by which company? That’s the biggest problem and no-one has a magic wand?! |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 25, 2020 17:32:56 GMT
Bit ominous that she wants all that data off you. Dare I suggest she knows that the trainline will never be built and she just wants your number and email for the next election ring around...
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Post by Deleted on Jul 25, 2020 17:35:32 GMT
I think it was quarried stone not goods? The track from what I could see of it is has deteriorated since then? To add to that, trains leave Stoke station every ten minutes so a rebuild of Stoke station or major alteration could be needed to accommodate the extra traffic? If Boris Johnson is serious about levelling out the country, then it’s about time North Staffordshire had some infrastructure projects like this to boost the local economy and environmental sustainability etc. He’s not....... |
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Post by spiderpuss on Jul 25, 2020 17:48:04 GMT
Bit ominous that she wants all that data off you. Dare I suggest she knows that the trainline will never be built and she just wants your number and email for the next election ring around... Obviously that's against the law, not that the Cons know much about obeying that. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 25, 2020 17:54:25 GMT
I only just saw the opt-in thing actually, but there's no reason this couldn't be on a known platform, or could just include names. I think it's a good idea, but there's no way this witch is having my personal deets.
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Post by lordb on Jul 25, 2020 18:40:39 GMT
Stoke and the area generally has never had any money spent on it. Safe Labour seats for a century so Tory govts saw that as a waste and Labour govts felt they didn't need to bother as they got the votes anyway What has changed is that those safe Labour seats are now Tory marginals If these seats can switch back and forth over the next few elections then politicians will see the area as worth spending on. Sad indictment of parliamentary democracy but there you go I think you’ll find that the local government settlement under Labour massively favoured Stoke and other poor areas. This settlement was reversed by the Tories with affluent areas getting a big boost to spending at poor areas expense! I live in a poor London borough and our council’s budget has been slashed by the Tories! You’ve got to look at Stoke Sixth Form College, the two unis ,Royal Stoke Hospital and spending on education to see how much money was spent in the area!The big complaint is that the 19th century industrial base wasn’t replaced? But by what? And by which company? That’s the biggest problem and no-one has a magic wand?! Sixth form is already looking a bit cheap Hospital is excellent but of course it's a regional hospital not just for us. Hard not to look at the decades of money chucked at the bigger cities and wonder |
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Post by desman2 on Jul 25, 2020 21:01:21 GMT
Stoke and the area generally has never had any money spent on it. Safe Labour seats for a century so Tory govts saw that as a waste and Labour govts felt they didn't need to bother as they got the votes anyway What has changed is that those safe Labour seats are now Tory marginals If these seats can switch back and forth over the next few elections then politicians will see the area as worth spending on. Sad indictment of parliamentary democracy but there you go I think you’ll find that the local government settlement under Labour massively favoured Stoke and other poor areas. This settlement was reversed by the Tories with affluent areas getting a big boost to spending at poor areas expense! I live in a poor London borough and our council’s budget has been slashed by the Tories! You’ve got to look at Stoke Sixth Form College, the two unis ,Royal Stoke Hospital and spending on education to see how much money was spent in the area!The big complaint is that the 19th century industrial base wasn’t replaced? But by what? And by which company? That’s the biggest problem and no-one has a magic wand?! The hospital dosn't belong to the taxpayer... yet. When it does it will have cost 6 times what it would have if it had been bought outright by the taxpayer. It belongs to Sodexo and costs us around 230.000 a day to rent it. Great deal for the potteries wasnt it. |
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Post by iancransonsknees on Jul 25, 2020 22:14:56 GMT
I think you’ll find that the local government settlement under Labour massively favoured Stoke and other poor areas. This settlement was reversed by the Tories with affluent areas getting a big boost to spending at poor areas expense! I live in a poor London borough and our council’s budget has been slashed by the Tories! You’ve got to look at Stoke Sixth Form College, the two unis ,Royal Stoke Hospital and spending on education to see how much money was spent in the area!The big complaint is that the 19th century industrial base wasn’t replaced? But by what? And by which company? That’s the biggest problem and no-one has a magic wand?! The hospital dosn't belong to the taxpayer... yet. When it does it will have cost 6 times what it would have if it had been bought outright by the taxpayer. It belongs to Sodexo and costs us around 230.000 a day to rent it. Great deal for the potteries wasnt it. This. Same with schools. PFI. The politicians pension scheme. Massive con, most people fall for them walking around opening all the new, shiny, shiny buildings and patting themselves on the back. They're all self serving cunts whichever party or union they're affiliated to. Don't kid yourselves otherwise. |
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Post by lawrieleslie on Jul 25, 2020 22:45:38 GMT
Re the Stoke - Leek railway line, are the railway lines still in place?
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Post by spiderpuss on Jul 26, 2020 0:22:29 GMT
Re the Stoke - Leek railway line, are the railway lines still in place? Yes oddly they are, you can check this by looking at google satellite view around Endon for instance. The big issues will be reinstalling stuff where it crosses a road, or adding stations as they will certainly be used for something else right now. The best way would be to reinstall the single track and just Leek station. If it happens I'll be shocked. |
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Post by desman2 on Jul 26, 2020 6:08:10 GMT
I think it was a big error closing so many local lines back in the 60's. All it ended up achieving was to over time push people onto the roads which now results in overcrowded roads and serious damage to said roads which means more expense. You can then look at the bus system. It could work if they didn't have timetables which were so tight that they become a hazard to people needing them for work as they end up late, so people use the car again. Alot of freight went as the lines were closed thus crowding the roads with HGV's which caused more damage and expense. It seems that no one can ever look at the longterm effects of something.
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Post by lawrieleslie on Jul 26, 2020 7:36:40 GMT
I think it was a big error closing so many local lines back in the 60's. All it ended up achieving was to over time push people onto the roads which now results in overcrowded roads and serious damage to said roads which means more expense. You can then look at the bus system. It could work if they didn't have timetables which were so tight that they become a hazard to people needing them for work as they end up late, so people use the car again. Alot of freight went as the lines were closed thus crowding the roads with HGV's which caused more damage and expense. It seems that no one can ever look at the longterm effects of something. We have similar issue in Devon with the Plymouth to Yealmpton line that was closed in the 60s. The line was planned to go to Kingsbridge with branches to other coastal towns on the way. Some Infrastructure was built to achieve this such as bridge parapets across River Erme estuary (still can be seen) at Mothercombe. A railway hotel was even built at Newton Ferrers (recently converted to luxury apartments overlooking Newton Harbour). But the line was never extended past Yealmpton and the rails were ripped up and sold to Spanish rail company. The line would now serve as a brilliant commuting route passing through rural South Hams and the urban areas of Plymouth not to mention the tourist attraction as the railway would meander its way along the banks of the river Yealm. Sadly not to be and, with the exception of about a mile of public right of way, most of the route is inaccessible as it passes through private land. |
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Post by spiderpuss on Jul 26, 2020 11:10:38 GMT
I think it was a big error closing so many local lines back in the 60's. All it ended up achieving was to over time push people onto the roads which now results in overcrowded roads and serious damage to said roads which means more expense. You can then look at the bus system. It could work if they didn't have timetables which were so tight that they become a hazard to people needing them for work as they end up late, so people use the car again. Alot of freight went as the lines were closed thus crowding the roads with HGV's which caused more damage and expense. It seems that no one can ever look at the longterm effects of something. It would have never been done in this day and age. However back in the day the motor-car was seen as the solution to everything, hence the huge investment in motorways. In these Greta Thunberg enlightened times the reverse would have happened. In the 60s, before the 70s oil crisis, petrol was extremely cheap. Whereas rail investment was expensive. When some of these railways closed they were just ferrying fresh air around (I think the Potteries loop line was one) and as they were expensive to run the inevitable happened. Another huge disadvantage the railways had is that by law they had to publish their freight prices up front. Well the road-freight companies just looked at the list and marketed themselves lower of course. With all the Covid-19 business going on will there be any money to even give stations a lick of paint, let alone opening lines to Leek? |
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Post by elystokie on Jul 26, 2020 11:22:28 GMT
Re the Stoke - Leek railway line, are the railway lines still in place? Yes oddly they are, you can check this by looking at google satellite view around Endon for instance. The big issues will be reinstalling stuff where it crosses a road, or adding stations as they will certainly be used for something else right now. The best way would be to reinstall the single track and just Leek station. If it happens I'll be shocked. I'll also be extremely surprised if this ever happens with public money, just can't see it, sadly. I've walked along the line on the Bucknall to Stoke bit a few times, the actual rails are still in place in parts. Even if they put the line back in they'd have a huge job connecting it to the station or the lines going into it from what I can see of the layout anyway. |
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