Greenfield Station – 16th December 2021
Greenfield station is the nearest station to the West of the Standedge tunnels. In my meanderings between Middlesbrough and Mirfield, I went to have a look.
As the pictures show, this is a modern station with its own pub and an excellent cafe on the other side of the road.
But the access to the Huddersfield-bound platform is not step-free.
This Google Map shows the station.
It is a cramped site, but the road didn’t appear to be very busy.
Could A High Speed Line Go Through Greenfield Station?
As I said it is a cramped site, but if the platform by the road were to be made bi-directional, the station would be converted into a two train per hour (tph) step-free station.
This is possible as has been shown on the Borders Railway at Galashiels station.
Look at this picture taken from the bridge.
I feel that by removing the second platform and rebuilding the retaining wall and the road bridge, that two 125 mph tracks could be squeezed through.
Step-Free Access
If after two high speed lines through, will it be possible to have full step-free access?
It will certainly be the same for both directions, but what will the access be like between platform and train?
The picture shows a train in the current Huddersfield-bound platform.
It is not bad, but it could be better, as has been demonstrated at the recently-opened Soham station.
But with only one class of train calling in the station it could be a lot better.
The Station Brew Cafe
I had a late breakfast at the Station Brew Cafe opposite the station.
Excellent! And gluten-free too!
Note the small cup, which I assumed they used to microwave the beans.
Conclusion
It would be difficult but not impossible engineering to squeeze a high speed line through Greenfield station.
The Anonymous Widower 
There are a couple of good YouTube videos taken from the Class 185 driver’s cab showing the Manchester to York route. Although they don’t replicate the future route from the Centre of Manchester to Stalybridge, they give a very informative impression of the challenges of constructing a high speed rail line up to Marsden and the Standedge tunnels. In my opinion unless there is realignment of parts of the route, it will not be possible to construct a line that has the potential for even further improvement in the years to come.
Comment by fammorris | December 19, 2021 |