Knutsford railway station

Infobox UK station
name = Knutsford
code = KNF


manager = Northern Rail
locale = Knutsford
borough = Macclesfield
usage0405 = 0.217
usage0506 = 0.241
usage0607 = 0.250
platforms = 2
start =

Knutsford railway station serves the town of Knutsford in Cheshire, England. The station is 36 km (22¼ miles) south of Manchester Piccadilly on the Mid-Cheshire Line to Chester. The line is referred to as the Chester via Altrincham line at Manchester Piccadilly, but as the Manchester via Stockport line at Chester station.

Knutsford station opened to passengers on 12 May 1862 with a service between Knutsford and Altrincham. Trains to Northwich commenced from 1 January 1863. Services were operated by CLC until nationalisation on 1 January 1948. Passengers numbers at Knutsford are currently increasing by as much as 27% per annum. [ [http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browse%20documents/rus%20documents/route%20utilisation%20strategies/north%20west/consultation%20responses/m/mid%20cheshire%20rail%20users%20association.pdf Mid Cheshire Rail Users Association ] ] Knutsford is also the most used station between Mouldsworth and Navigation Road (not including Metrolink figures at Altrincham and Navigation Road.)

tation facilities

The ticket office is open form 06:30 to 20:30, with shorter hours on Saturday and Sunday, but only ever has one staff member in attendance.

There is no PA system or information screens to inform passengers about late running trains. On occasions the person who is on duty at the ticket office writes service alterations on a blackboard located in the ticket office.

There are car parks adjacent to both platforms. Parking is advertised as costing £2.50 per day. However, frequently ticket machines fail and are not repaired promptly meaning rail users can sometimes park at the station for free.

Step free access is available to both platforms. However, step free access between the ticket office and the platform for Chester bound trains is via a longish walk downhill and then back uphill. Consequently, disabled people and parents with baby's buggies/prams can usually buy the full range of available tickets from the conductor on Chester bound trains, despite Northern Rail's posters insisting that only full price tickets are sold on the train if you board at a station where there is an open ticket office.

ervices

Currently there is an hourly service to Manchester Piccadilly, Chester, Stockport, Altrincham and Northwich, with extra trains at peak times. There is also one direct train per day to Salford Crescent, Bolton, Preston and Blackpool North, until December 2008. For full information on services and types of trains used please see Mid-Cheshire Line

From December 2008 services will be revised with the additional morning Chester to Manchester peak services terminating at Stockport, and the additional Manchester to Chester evening peak services starting instead at Stockport. This revision is necessary to allow the operation of additional services between Manchester and London Euston over the already congested Stockport railway viaduct. The 15:49 Chester to Manchester service will be lost altogether, as will the Saturday 07:30 Chester to Manchester service. However, the basic hourly service (Mon-Sat) will be retained, and the Sunday service will be significantly improved, increasing to a 2-hourly service that runs from Chester to Southport via Manchester Piccadilly, rather than a 3-hourly service between Chester and Altrincham. [ [http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/nrthrnrail-20sa-sch5-ed10.pdf SERVICE GROUP: ED10 SOUTH MANCHESTER ] ]

Tickets

Tickets should be purchased from the ticket office either just before you travel (except when the ticket office is closed) or in advance. If you are planning a long journey then seat reservations can be made at Knutsford station (the deadline for seat reservations varies with different train operators.)

A combined bus, train and tram ticket known as a Wayfarer ticket is valid on train services to and from Knutsford after 9:30. A Cheshire Day Ranger ticket is valid on train services to and from Knutsford after 8:45, as is a North West Rail Rover and a Coasts and Peaks Rail Rover. Leaflets about these types of ticket are available at Knutsford and other train stations.

tation Security

Unfortunately, Knutsford station has had more than it's fair share of crime. There have been many calls for CCTV at the station. However, a lack of available money has normally been the reason for it not being installed. In general during the hours when the ticket office is open Knutsford station is not an unsafe place to be. Though it could be intimating when school children arrive and depart. If you are travelling late at night then be sure to exercise good personal safety.

Onward Travel

Buses can be caught from the bus stop on Adams Hill, adjacent to the small car park next to the Chester bound platform. The following services are currently available:
*300 Knutsford Town Circular
Frequency: Half Hourly Monday to Saturday.
*288 Knutsford-Mobberley-Wilmslow-Hale-Altrincham
Frequency: Hourly Monday to Saturday.
*27 Knutsford-Chelford-Macclesfield
Frequency: 2 Hourly Monday to Saturday.
Note: Bus 27 runs as an hourly service in both directions. However, only alternate buses call at the railway station. Bus 27 also serves AstraZeneca, Alderley Park at selected times Monday to Friday.
*27 Knutsford-Tatton Park
Frequency: 2 Hourly Saturday Only.
Note: Bus 27 runs as an hourly service in both directions. However, only alternate buses call at the railway station. Buses to Tatton Park depart from the opposite side of the road from the station.
There is no taxi rank at or near the station. If you require a taxi then you should book one in advance. Phone numbers for taxi companies are available at the ticket office.

Possible future improvements

There are currently a number of potential improvements which are realistic proposals for improvements to the station and railway service.

1. A campaign is running for a later train from Manchester Piccadilly to Knutsford on Friday and Saturday evenings. The last train currently leaves Manchester Piccadilly at 23:09. [ [http://www.knutsfordguardian.co.uk/search/display.var.1293484.0.should_knutsford_campaign_for_a_later_train_home_from_manchester.php] Retrieval Date: 18 July, 2007.]

2. To re-open the train line between Northwich and Sandbach which will allow direct trains to Crewe from Knutsford. This will allow faster train journey times to the Midlands and the South of England. [http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browse%20documents/rus%20documents/route%20utilisation%20strategies/north%20west/consultation%20responses/m/mid%20cheshire%20rail%20users%20association.pdf] Retrieval Date: 18 July, 2007.]

3. To run tram-trains directly in to Manchester in addition to the existing rail service which is estimated to cut about 10 minutes off the overall journey time. Network Rail and the Department for Transport (DfT) have indicated that they are keen to carry out a trial for tram-trains in the UK. Carrying out the trial would provide the information Network Rail and the DfT require on reliability, frequency and costs. [http://www.wymetro.com/News/070625-2.htm]

4. To improve the station facilities at Knutsford station including installing CCTV. [ [http://www.mcrua.org.uk/mcrr66.htm] Retrieval Date: 18 July, 2007.]

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Notes

External links

* [http://www.midcheshirerail.org.uk Mid-Cheshire Community Rail Partnership]