Trains at Manchester Oxford Road (WCML, ChMsL, CLCL) - 13/02/2024

The 209th video of my train spotting adventures.
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Continuing on through central Manchester, this video takes us down via the Ordsall Chord to Manchester Oxford Road railway station. A medium sized 5-platform commuter/interchange station, it was first opened as 'Oxford Road' station in 1849 and was the headquarters of the Manchester, South Junction & Altrincham Railway (MSJAR) until 1904. Initially, the station had just one through platform on the north side of the line, and one west-facing siding platform. Temporary platforms were erected in 1857 for the Manchester Art Treasures Exhibition; they were then dismantled afterwards.
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Ever since then, the station would only grow in its passenger usage, and volume of services per day, yet until the 1900s no new platforms or any truly significant upgrades took place. A service to Liverpool in 1854, a service to London Road (now Piccadilly) in 1857 (though barred by the LNWR for some time), many goods services, and new Cheshire Lines services after 1874 all contributed to the two platform station (only 1 through platform) receiving up to 37 trains in a day. Consequentially, passengers would often find their trains stopping outside the station platforms, having to alight onto the gravel besides the rail tracks. In 1876, £12k (around £1.7 million in 2024 money) was spent to enlarge some of the station facilities, which still did little to alleviate the congestion train-wise; rumours of new LNWR services to/from Liverpool Lime Street would've spelled catastrophe for the overwhelmed station.
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At last though, train handling was eased after services were rerouted into the new Manchester Central railway station in 1880 (this would later close in 1969). Even so, press articles commented heavily on how the station still had its 1849 layout of platforms, needing heavy upgrading roughly 50 years on. At last, upgrades came in after 1903. The approach was improved, the ticket office & facilities expanded, and the MSJAR offices removed; their company would come under ownership of the LNWR by 1904, at the same time as an island platform came into use on the through lines. 1500 V DC electrification was in use by 1931 between Piccadilly and Altrincham; these were pulled back by 1959, then to terminate in two new bay platforms. Electrification to 25 kV AC happened during this time.
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The whole station was redesigned again in 1960, including the distinctive wooden cone designs still seen today. After Manchester Central closed in 1969, further rebuilding occurred, including the redesign of platforms to provide a new through platform 1; the other platforms were renumbered, giving it the modern 4-through and 1-bay platforms it has today, becoming a predominantly through-station.
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Further changes happened over time. Usage & services increased after 1988 with the Windsor Link opening, connecting Deansgate and Salford Crescent stations, and the more direct lines to/from Preston and Wigan. In 1992, the Altrincham line was closed and eventually came under control of Manchester Metrolink services. The main station roof was partially refurbished in 2004 to prevent leaking. Platform shelters, seats and toilets were refurbished in 2011, and in 2013 an emergency exit and step-free access via lifts was added. After 2018, the Ordsall Chord opened, at first allowing through Northern services from Manchester Victoria to Oxford Road; today, it's solely used by Transpennine services.
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Filmed on the:
West Coast Mainline (Manchester branch)
Chat Moss Line
Chester Lines Committee lines
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Services seen:
TPE) Services towards Manchester Piccadilly, Stockport, Sheffield, Meadowhall, Doncaster, Cleethorpes, Manchester Airport, Manchester Oxford Road, Manchester Victoria, Huddersfield, Saltburn, Liverpool Lime Street, and onwards to Scotland.
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NT) Trains towards Manchester Piccadilly, Manchester Airport, Deansgate, Bolton, Southport, Blackpool North, Warrington Central, Newton-le-Willows, Liverpool Lime Street, Lancaster, Barrow-in-Furness and Windermere.
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EMR) Services towards Liverpool Lime Street, Manchester Piccadilly, Stockport, Sheffield, Nottingham, Grantham, Peterborough and onwards to Ely and Norwich.
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TFW) Services towards Manchester Piccadilly, Manchester Airport, Warrington Bank Quay, Chester, Llandudno Junction, Llandudno and Holyhead.
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Trains seen:
TPE) Class 185 Desiro, Class 802 Nova 2, Class 397 Nova 1/Civity
NT) Class 156 Super Sprinter, Class 195 Civity, Class 323, Class 331 Civity, Class 769
EMR) Class 158 Express Sprinter
TFW) Class 197 Civity
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