Stockport to Stalybridge Line

The Stockport to Stalybridge Line is a short railway line in Greater Manchester, running from Stockport north east to Stalybridge. Although it once received a frequent service, [cite news |first = Conrad |last = Astley |title = Ghost train in reverse gear |url = http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/118/118102_ghost_train_in_reverse_gear.html |work = Manchester Evening News |date = 2004-05-28 |accessdate = 2006-10-11] for the past few years it has been served by a single train run by Northern Rail, once a week in one direction. This minimal service, termed a parliamentary train for historical reasons, is run to avoid the official procedures involved in terminating the passenger service.

The scarcity of services on the line has led to it becoming popular with rail enthusiasts, as well as real ale connoisseurs visiting the Station Buffet at Stalybridge.

The line serves the following places:
*Stockport
*Reddish
*Denton
*Guide Bridge
*Stalybridge

Closure

Network Rail, in their Route Utilisation Strategy (RUS) for the North West, proposed closure of Reddish South and Denton stations and withdrawal of the remaining passenger service. The line itself would have remained open for freight and diverted passenger workings. [cite web |url=http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browseDirectory.aspx?dir=RUS%20DocumentsRoute%20Utilisation%20StrategiesNorth%20West&pageid=2895&root= |title=North West Route Utilisation Strategy (draft) |author=Network Rail |date=2006-11-10 |accessdate=2006-11-14 ] . The threat was withdrawn, possibly temporarily, in May 2007 [cite news |first=Ben |last=Rooth |title=Rail bosses lift axe threat |url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1006/1006187_rail_bosses_lift_axe_threat.html |work=Manchester Evening News |publisher=M.E.N media |date=2007-05-04 |accessdate=2007-05-06 |language= |quote= ] when GMPTE agreed to support 3 trains per hour between Stockport and Manchester Victoria [cite web|url=http://www.stockportexpress.co.uk/news/s/527/527284_reddish_station_back_on_track.html|title=Reddish station back on track|date=2007-05-02|publisher=Stockport Express|accessdate=2008-03-03] .

Grand Union, a new open access train operating company, has proposed using the line for passenger services between London and Bradford via the West Coast Main Line, using Guide Bridge station as a stop.

References