Marsden Station – 16th December 2021
On my meanderings yesterday I visited Marsden station, which has been suggested that it could be the Eastern end of a high speed route to Manchester and Liverpool.
This Google Map shows the station.
Note.
- The station has three platforms. but trains seem to only use the two Northern platform.
- Access to the platforms is up and down dreadful iron stairs.
- There is a new housing development by the station.
The station needs improvement.
Could A High Speed Line Go Through Marsden Station?
Having looked at the station, I wouldn’t be surprised if Network Rail have a plan to put two fast and one or possibly two slow tracks through this station.
My preference would be to run 125 mph or faster trains on the current pair of Northern lines and create a new station on a single bi-directional line or a pair of lines to the South.
- Trains on the fast line wouldn’t stop.
- There would be a capacity of two trains per hour (tph) in both directions through the station.
It might even be possible to extend high speed running to Slaithwaite station. I didn’t visit that station, but from the Wikipedia entry, I didn’t seem to miss much.
This Google Map shows Slaithwaite station.
After the station, the tracks would merge into two tracks to go the 4.5 miles to Huddersfield, where all trains appear to stop.
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.
Conclusion
I believe two high speed tracks can be built through Marsden station.
Mirfield Station – 16th December 2021
To get the Grand Central Trains’s service back to London, I had to travel to Mirfield station. As the ticket was just £11.85, it was probably worth it.
I took these pictures of the station.
Note.
- The station has an unusual layout with a main island platform, where Eastbound trains call and a separate platform for Westbound trains.
- The platform can take a six-car train.
- Facilities are just a rudimentary shelter and a train information board.
- There is a lot of promotion for Mirfield in Bloom.
- Access to the station is up a staircase from the road under the station.
I took shelter in the nearby Navigation Tavern, which was a welcoming pub with lots of beer and food.
These pictures show the underpass and the pub.
This Google Map shows the station and the area.
Note.
- The wide island platform marked with the station symbol.
- Station Road running under the railway.
- The Navigation Tavern between the canal and the railway.
All this is going to change.
With the TransPennine Upgrade, the station will be turned into a modern station.
This diagram clipped from this article on Modern Railways shows the current layout at Mirfield station.
And this shows the future layout.
Note.
- The wide platform will serve both slow lines and all trains stopping at Mirfield station.
- Two fast lines will be created in the space to the South of the current platform.
- I would assume that the fast lines will be electrified with a much higher speed limit.
- Will the slow lines be electrified or will battery-electric power be used?
- There is certainly space on the island platform for some much better facilities.
I also think, that the station can be rebuilt without disrupting services.
Conclusion
As Roy Brooks, who was an infamous estate agent in London in the 1960s, would have said, this is a station with potential.
The Anonymous Widower 