Ellenbrook Loopline

The Ellenbrook Loopline is a short 1.4km rail path from the Leigh Guided Busway at Newearth Road to the Roe Green Loopline, east of Parsonage Road. There has been a path of sorts here for some time, but it never seemed worth a post as it was in very poor condition and was blocked at the western end. However, Salford council upgraded the path last year and the path now makes a useful and usable link.



The entrance off the busway path is well signposted and marked with clear signage, though it is debatable as to how long these will last, given that some have been vandalised elsewhere.



There is a token barrier as you join the path, but nothing too difficult for a bike and trailer or trike.



The first striking thing you notice when you join the path is the surface, it's fantastic!

Compared to the grit strewn, noisy, uneven busway path this is a delight. It is 50% recycled tyres and so quiet. It is also slightly soft and very grippy, so far, far safer than the dreadful surfaces covered in grit. It also has a well laid, even finish and looks like it is porous, so water can drain through it.

This should set the standard for all new rural cycle routes!



The route starts on the old railway route,



but drops off the line of the railway on the approach to Mather Fold Road.



Here there is a bit of a diversion round the gates close to the old Valve House - left of the photo below.



Again there are barriers, but not too much of a problem.



Then back up onto the railway route.



However at Hilton Lane there is a missing bridge, so the path drops quite sharply to road level.



A somewhat odd combination cycle/pedestrian crossing doesn't feel particularly safe and not sure about it's legal status...



On the other side of the road the gradient is really steep. According to the plans this shouldn't be any steeper than 1 in 12, but with a sharp corner half way up it's a bottom gear climb or get off and push, with steps for walkers.



Next the bridge takes the path under the railway,



and then opens out for a short while before closing in again



and curving round to the left to join the Roe Green Loopline.



The entrance at this end is marked by another of the large rectangular sign.



The upgrade has turned a difficult muddy route into a useful short link with a fantastic surface. It's so quiet you can enjoy the sound of the birds as you cycle along.

Tyldesley Loopline Update, Roe Green to Ellenbrook

I last rode the Tyldesley Loopline between Roe Green and Ellenbrook back in August 2014.

Salford council held a consultation about improving this route last December and it seems that there have been some works carried out - sadly that has resulted in the route being almost un-ridable for the time being.

Starting at the junction with the Roe Green Loopline, the path is in reasonable condition.



There are signs of the trees having been cut back, but initially the surface is rideable.



However, the path worsens at this point.



It is seriously muddy, no place for racing bikes...



After the bridge under the East Lancs Road the path goes up steeply to the left and open water appears on the trackbed.



From here the path on the top of the embankment is a bit muddy, but rideable, whilst the trackbed looks more like a lake.



Once the path returns to the trackbed things get much worse



Here the preparation works have churned up the trackbed.



At this point it is very difficult to make progress. The mud is several inches deep in places, and you get wheelspin on the flat.



These conditions last all the way to Ellenbrook and the start of the guided busway.



All in all this route is almost unrideable and well worth avoiding until Salford Council get round to finishing the upgrade works.

Tyldesley Loopline 1 - Monton to Roe Green - Updated

This route is entirely traffic free and runs for just over one and a half miles along the disused trackbed of the Tyldesley Loopline in Salford. The Tyldesley Loopline was part of the London and North Western Railway's line from Eccles to Kenyon Junction on the Liverpool and Manchester Railway. The line opened in 1864 and closed in 1969. Part of this route is covered by a Herritage Trail leaflet.

This post covers the section from the site of Monton Green Station through Worsley Station to the junction with Roe Green Loop Line at Roe Green and has been updated with some new photos now that much of this section has been extensively resurfaced.

The site of Monton Green Station was several feet above this small roundabout on the B5229. The  station has been completely demolished, as has all sign of the line to the south. There is no signage at all on this road pointing out the start of the railpath, which is on the right just after the roundabout despite it being part of NCN Route 55.



This is the entrance, the winding path that begins behind the red barrier. There is no drop kerb or any other concession to pedal cycles. The entrance to the left of the picture leads to a brand new car park, so drivers have been well looked after...



The path leads up a short slope into the trees and straight into the one and only barrier on this section of path. It is a horrible U-bend barrier with a bike A-frame bypass. Enough to defeat some pedal cycles, but not as bad as many in Salford.



Once through the barrier you can get a glimpse of the car park on your left, and wonder how much it must have cost compared to the resurfacing of the path...



This first section of the path is well surfaces with a reddish tarmac. It runs along a wide embankment with trees on both sides. Unfortunately there has been little management of the trees and you get just a few glimpses of the open views on both sides.




To the left at this point is Broadoak Park the subject of a residents' battle to prevent it being built on, now a residents' victory and to the right is Worsley Golf Course.



About 3/4 of a mile up the path it crosses a stream on a rebuilt bridge




and brings you to the site of Worsley Station. Unlike most other former stations in the area, this one still has some reminder of it's existence with platforms on both sides.






At the end of the old platforms there is access via Hollyhurst, the old station access road up onto the A572 Worsley Road.



Here is where the resurfacing work starts. The new surface is a very smooth black tarmac without the usual grit finish, suitable for all cycles.



Just to the north the path passes under Worsley Road, through a rebuilt bridge, much smaller than the original.



The bridge is a corrugated iron tube and the old wooden gate that used to sit across the path here has been removed.



Beyond, the extensive drainage works can be seen on the left. Somewhere along here a short branch  line to the Bridgewater Canal joined this line from the left, but I have never noticed the junction amongst the various footpaths.



New access steps have been installed along the route with groves for wheeling a bicycle up and down, but they are useless for anything heavy or with a trailer.



At the bridge under the M60 the trees have been cut back and a new bench has been added.



However, there is still no lighting under the bridge.



A short way further on the trees on the left disappear, along with the embankment.




This is the site of a new United Utilities facility built to prevent sewerage getting into Kempnough Brook. It consists of an underground bifurcation chamber fitted with a powered screen, a 1,545m3 detention tank, a weir and a powered screen chamber.

This was the work that closed this route over the summer of 2013.



From here the trees close in again on the left along with an original wall holding back the cutting.



This section now leads to the junction at Roe Green, where the two bridges carry Greenleach Lane over the junction.



The bridge to the left straddles the continuation of the Tyldesley Loopline as it turns west. Here the tarmac ends.



Under the bridge to the right the resurfacing continues along the newer Roe Green Loopline which heads north for Bolton.



Continued in separate posts.

Tyldesley Loop Line 2

Roe Green Loopline 1


View Tyldesley Loopline 1 - Monton to Roe Green in a larger map

Tyldesley & Roe Green Loopline Closed

A colleague at work found his route to work along the Roe Green and Tyldesley Looplines blocked a couple of weeks ago, with no explanation.

The closure runs all the way from Worsley Station to Tynebank in Wallden.



He wasn't best pleased at having to carry his bike out onto the surrounding very busy road.



The closure notices finally appeared after two weeks.



It seems Urban Vision and Salford Council don't think that people cycling need to be given advanced warning along the route, giving them time to work out how they are going to navigate the surrounding roads. After all we don't all read their web site just in case our route to work is being closed.