Operating Hours 05.55-24.00: 242 trains timetabled, number operating varying by day

PLEASE - read the guidance notes in the timetable before use!

The May 1989 timetable was supposed to produce a whole new era to Manchester's railways, with full use of the new Windsor Link and many trains rerouted from Victoria to Piccadilly. More trains were promised on all routes. It was all going to be fantastic. It was a disaster! Too many trains for line capacity, failure to route trains where customers wanted to go and unrealistic performance expectations caused meltdown from the first day.

On the Mid Cheshire lines, Chester services are now routed via Stockport, adding 15-20 minutes to a journey. Passenger loadings have dropped alarmingly as a result of this and the introduction of Pacer and Sprinter DMUs. EMUs continue to operate directly between Altrincham and Manchester and there is a mixture of freight operations, though fewer than in 1985. In contrast, there are more peak hour passenger services in 1989, with a complicated platforming pattern at Altrincham for the EMUs. It is possible to get into an awful mess!

Outside the peak hours this is a relatively simple timetable for solo users. Rush hours will be intense, especially if operated in the default modes of level crossings and Absolute Block on, but TORR off. Do please be mindful of the various issues and work-rounds.

The Mid Cheshire route is all about regulating freight traffic and being aware of the time taken between block posts. Get things wrong and the line between Altrincham and Mickle Trafford can grind to a halt frighteningly easily. The various level crossings merely add fuel to the fire.

I wish operators good luck. It's all rather trickier than it first appears and brings back some "interesting" memories of Deansgate Jn and Skelton Jn signalboxes for me.