Railway Herald
As a result of the commissioning of the Norton Bridge Diversion Scheme over Easter 2016 Cross Country Services to and from Manchester Piccadilly are being diverted although they are still serving Stafford and Stoke despite the closure of the direct route north of Stafford. The direct Birmingham New St-Wolverhampton route is also closed
resulting in diversion via Bescot then taking the usual route to Stafford where they reverse and head south on the WCML to Colwich where another reversal is necessary to then take the direct route between Colwich and Stone. Class 220 Voyager No. 220002 passes Whitebridge Crossing at Stone on 10.45 Bournemouth-Manchester Piccadilly. The usual route via Norton Bridge is the one diverging through Stone Station in the right background on 25th March 2016. Remarkably the diversions are adding barely 30 minutes to the journey!.
Geoffrey Dingle
