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- The inner, the Canada Dock Branch,
- The outer loop from Hunts X to Aintree or using the curves, Hunts X to the centre via Kirkdale. This can form a complete Merseyrail circle.
For passenger use the outer loop is by far the best if a stadium is involved as one way there is South Parkway interchange and the city centre the other. This line is easy to recommission. The only problem, but small is, redirecting the tunnel at the Rice Lane flyover a few yards into the park. Whoever at the council allowed building onto the disused trackbed curves should be shot. Was it Henshaw? Rail trackbed and tunnels should be left in place "in case", and this is a clear case of "in case". The curves at Halewood have not been built on, neither has the outer loop cvomplet with bridges intact. Just the curves at Walton are built on. The city is projected to be a super-city, so all this disused rail infrastructure is essential for future growth.
Even if no stadium is proposed for Walton Hall Park, a new curve can be built adjacent to the old curve and some short section of tunnelling into the tunnel at Rice lane will bring the outer loop onto Merseyrail.
The Canada Dock Branch only has the advantage of having lines on it. It will be difficult to branch the Canada Dock Branch line onto the Northern Line at Kirkdale as you have mentioned because the two lines are at different levels. The line does not run through station platforms at Kirkdale. It can be merged by running the line after it emerges from under Kirkdale and Bankhall stations on the way to adjacent Canada Dock, and swinging south in a tight curve and merging into the Northern Line south of Kirkdale station. Light-rail trains would need to be used to negotiate the curve.
At the other end of the Canada Dock Branch Line is Edge Hill junction with no Merseyrail electric connections. So, this line will run into Mainline Lime Street only. I can't see them electrifying this line and only diesel trains used, and maybe only on matchdays with only one three stations used: Anfield, Edge Hill and Lime Street. Then how many would this station at Cherry Lane? It will only take you to Edge Hill or Lime Street and give city-wide coverage.
It is possible to have an interchange station at Kirkdale in the deep cutting, and steps to the higher level Merseyrail platforms. The Kirkdale platforms would make the line feasible for everyday use, so some hope. It would be run by slow Northern Rail diesels. It is a point to point line, unless the line is merged into the Northern Line at Kirkdale or the tunnel branch from Central station is bored and merged into the Wapping tunnel, which is unlikely for a mainly 30 day a year football line.
It is easy to see that the outer loop is the by far the better option:
- It merges into Merseyrail easily and forms a complete loop.
- On matchdays trains just need to stay on the loop and run in and out of the stadium station. This make matters very easy for Merseyrail operation in getting the trains in and out of the stadium and shifts people fast.
- Also two ways into the city centre and Wirral connections
- Two ways to South Parkway for away fans.
- Easy change at Sandhills to Southport and Ormskirk
- Easy changes at Kirkdale for Kirkby (and Skem when that comes on-line)
- Easy change to the airport when that comes on line
- It brings onto line many districts that really need a rapid transit rail connection.
- It eliminates the need for slow lumbering trams.
Remember, the outer loop was a part of the original 1970's plan, maybe why it is kept intact inc' bridges. The curves to Rice Lane were not, neither was the Kirkdale tunnel either. Now it looks like a great enhancement to the city's transport and to a footy club as well.
Below: Canada Dock Branch Line in Blue. Northern Line in black, Kirkdale in the North, Lime Street in the South. A point to point line at the mo'. The tunnel can be seen and WHP is at the top where it says Walton.
LFC and EFC could both have a stadium at Walton Hall Park and the station serve both. WHP is not far from both clubs. The park is by far the better solution to Stanley Park being on the other side of Queens Drive.
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