Navigation Road station

Navigation Road
A Northern Rail train calling at the heavy rail platform
General information
Location	Altrincham, Trafford England
Coordinates	53.3953°N 2.3433°W / 53.3953; -2.3433
Grid reference	SJ772888
Managed by	Northern Trains
Transit authority	Greater Manchester
Platforms	1
Other information
Station code	NVR
Classification	DfT category F2
Passengers
2019/20	0.106 million
2020/21	21,166
2021/22	57,620
2022/23	72,084
2023/24	82,312
Notes Passenger statistics from the Office of Rail and Road

Navigation Road is a station that serves both Northern Trains and Manchester Metrolink trams located in the east of Altrincham, in Greater Manchester, England. It consists of a Northern Trains-operated bidirectional heavy rail platform on the Mid-Cheshire Line opposite a bidirectional light rail platform on the Altrincham Line of Greater Manchester's Metrolink network. The original heavy rail station was opened by the Manchester, South Junction and Altrincham Railway in 1931 as a pair of single-face platforms, and in 1992 one was given over to the Metrolink network. A level crossing operates at the southern end of the station.

History

See also: History of Manchester Metrolink

The station originally opened on 20 July 1931 on the Manchester, South Junction and Altrincham Railway (MSJAR) following the electrification of that line, and was referred to as Navigation Road (Altrincham) on early tickets, timetables, etc. British Rail electric trains between Manchester and Altrincham ceased serving the station on 24 December 1991. The former Altrincham-bound (down) platform has since been used for Mid-Cheshire Line trains and the former Manchester-bound (up) platform reopened as a Metrolink stop on 15 June 1992. Freight trains also operate through Navigation Road, including heavy block trains carrying limestone from quarries at Tunstead (near Buxton) to alkali works at Northwich.

Facilities

There is a car park on the Metrolink side of the station with 65 spaces plus 5 disabled spaces.

In January 2018 a ticket machine was installed within the shelter on the heavy rail side of the station. Pre-ordered tickets can be collected here as well as buying tickets for journeys from this station.

The nearest hospitality venues to the Navigation Road stop are The Waiting Room Cafe at A4 studios and The Hive by VH Interiors a General Store & Beverage Bar, both located on Grosvenor Road on the way into Altrincham.

Services

Rail

Navigation Road is served by an hourly train service between Manchester Piccadilly and Chester via Stockport and Northwich, which is run by Northern Trains, with additional trains at peak times. The Sunday service originally ran only between Chester and Altrincham thus not serving Navigation Road, with passengers connecting onto the Metrolink at Altrincham for stations to Manchester, however a 2-hourly Sunday service to Manchester and beyond is now in place.

Metrolink

Navigation Road
Metrolink station
A M5000 Metrolink tram leaving Navigation Road for Altrincham
General information
Location	Altrincham, Trafford England
Coordinates	53.39587°N 2.34327°W / 53.39587; -2.34327
Line(s)	Altrincham Line
Platforms	1
Other information
Status	In operation
Fare zone	4
History
Opened	20 July 1931 (1931-07-20)
Original company	Manchester, South Junction and Altrincham Railway
Post-grouping	Manchester, South Junction and Altrincham Railway
Key dates
25 December 1991	Closed as a rail station
15 June 1992	Conversion to Metrolink operation
Route map to St Peter's Square 0:21 Deansgate-Castlefield ( Deansgate) Bridgewater Canal 0:18 Cornbrook to Pomona CLC Liverpool–Manchester line 0:15 Trafford Bar to Firswood 0:13 Old Trafford 0:11 Stretford River Mersey  M60  0:08 Dane Road 0:07 Sale 0:06 Brooklands 0:04 Timperley 0:02 Navigation Road 0:00 Altrincham
Location

A T-68 tram leaves for Altrincham in 1992, shortly after the station's part conversion to Metrolink

Navigation Road is located on the Altrincham Line with trams towards Altrincham stopping every 6 minutes during the day Monday to Saturday and every 12 minutes Monday to Saturday evenings and on Sundays. In the opposite direction, trams head towards Piccadilly and Bury, with the Monday to Saturday daytime service running every 12 minutes to both Piccadilly and Bury. Evening and Sunday journeys run to Piccadilly only.

As of January 2019, Navigation Road is located in Metrolink fare zone 4.

Service pattern

• 10 trams per hour to Altrincham (5 off-peak)
• 5 trams per hour to Bury (peak only)
• 5 trams per hour to Piccadilly.

Bus

Navigation Road station is served by Diamond Bus routes 285, which runs anti-clockwise, and 286, which runs clockwise, both running every hour. These routes run between Altrincham Interchange and Timperley, as a circular service.

Preceding station	Manchester Metrolink			Following station
Altrincham Terminus		Altrincham–Bury (peak only)		Timperley towards Bury
		Altrincham–Piccadilly		Timperley towards Piccadilly
Preceding station	National Rail			Following station
Altrincham		Northern Trains Mid-Cheshire Line		Stockport

Further reading

• Mitchell, Vic; Smith, Keith (2013). Chester Northgate to Manchester. Middleton Press. figs. 86-87. ISBN 9781908174512. OCLC 892704846.

External links

• Train times and station information for Navigation Road station from National Rail
• National Rail Enquiries - Station Facilities for Navigation Road
• Metrolink Times Information and Stop Information
• Navigation Road Metrolink area map
• Picture of Navigation Road station The Trams.co.uk
• Mid-Cheshire Community Rail Partnership