Operating Hours: 05.54-00.10. 382 trains in timetable, number operating varies by day

PLEASE - read the guidance notes on the timetable's "General" tab before operating!

Welcome to 1977, when both the Mid Cheshire line proper and its close cousin skirting south Manchester via Skelton Jn were busy with passenger and freight traffic.

Passenger traffic between Altrincham and Manchester is frequent and very reliable indeed. Five trains (four 4-car EMUs and a 2-car Chester DMU) each way in off peak hours. Eleven trains (8 EMUs and three 4-car DMUs) per hour in the peak periods. Over 2,800 seats per hour for commuters, with even more possible. Cheshire commuters do not stand.

Northwich is a centre for regional freight traffic, with trains from all points of the compass. Only a minority use the Altrincham route. Those that do all take the steeply graded curve to Skelton Jn. At that 3-way junction, they join a busy double track, freight only route whose main line is nominally Glazebrook Jn to Godley Jn via Partington, but these days most traffic turns left at Skelton Jn, heading for Warrington (Arpley). Eastwards, a handful of trains turn off toward Stockport at Northenden Jn as do a few more at Cheadle Jn, heading for the Peak District.

Regulation is key, including not being afraid to delay freight trains if it will keep the various single lines flowing efficiently. Passenger traffic at 3 minute headways in each direction will make opening the level crossings at Navigation Road and Deansgate Jn a particular issue.

I hope you relish this challenge from the Ark as much as many of us did at the time!

My thanks to phil-jmw for his testing expertise and feedback. Any bugs found are probably down to me not following his wise advice. Please let me know of any issues and I'll do my best to resolve them.