Ricster Diaries Episode 96 - The Cheshire Lines 2 | 20/01/2026

Filmed on 20/01/2026. So, better late than never but let us get 2026 on a roll. We begin 2026 with brand new areas and station to cover as we venture to the Cheshire Lines towards Stoke-On-Trent. Starting the journey at Scarborough, we catch the 05:52 Transpennine Express service which would've continued for Manchester Piccadilly which got capped at York. This is due to the Transpennine Route Upgrade works taking place in the Church Fenton area. Plot twist though, we pairing class 185's did indeed run to York but the rear set formed the 06:58 Transpennine Express service to Manchester Piccadilly via Wakefield Kirkgate making for a rare opportunity to ride direct from Scarborough via Wakefield to reach Manchester Piccadilly. At Manchester Piccadilly, we changed for the 08:52 Northern service to Buxton to our first new station of Heaton Chapel. Heaton Chapel brings is a thriller of an hour of fast action and with up to 4 trains per hour servicing Heaton Chapel for Manchester., Buxton, Crewe & Alderley Edge. The first of the class 323's is showing their Bee Network which Northern is becoming part of alongside the Manchester Trams and Greater Manchester buses. Next, we then caught the 10:02 Northern service to Stockport. Stockport is about right place at the right time and we got it right. Quite a few freight passing through and also planes landing at Manchester Airport which got for a sibling which she is a big plane enthusiast. Then, we caught the 11:13 Cross Country Super Voyager service to our next station of Macclesfield. Cross Country has been generous by putting on Super Voyagers with even ex Avanti Super Voyagers making an appearance. Macclesfield did catch us nearly off guard as Avanti West Coast now runs 2 trains per hour via Stoke-On-Trent with one train per hour serving Macclesfield with the other running non stop between Stockport & Stoke-On-Trent. Next, we then caught the 12:26 Cross Country Voyager service to our final station of the day being Stoke-On-Trent. Stoke-On-Trent (Dads hometown) has had some upgrades and artwork in the hallways which we had to stop and admire. Look out as in the near future, London Northwestern Railway will be extending their Stafford/Crewe service to Manchester Airport. Worth keeping an eye out on. Our journey home, we caught the 14:57 Northern class 323 to Manchester Piccadilly worked by former West Midlands Railway 323207. A rather speedy and relaxing journey to Manchester Piccadilly. At Manchester Piccadilly, we had a choice of either catch the 16:00 Transpennine Express Nova 1 service to Newcastle but which reversed at Leeds to run via Castleford or the 16:00 Transpennine Express pairing class 185's to York via Wakefield Kirkgate. We decided on the best option was the class 185's to York as the timings meant the class 185's would get to York some what 25 minutes head of the Nova 1. Finally, we catch the 18:10 Transpennine Express class 185 to Scarborough. ***************************************************************************** Thank You For Watching You Can Follow Me On Twitter: @NowisRicky Flickr: ricnowis Instagram: rcnowis Facebook: Ricky Nowis Transport Community ©RickyNowisTrainspotting MMXXVI #ricsterdiaries #chesire #westcoastmainline #travelvloguk #ukrailways #heatonchapel #avantiwestcoast #class390 #pendolino #transportforwales #class197 #caf #uktrains2026 #stockport #transpennineexpress #class185 #desiro #macclesfield #eastmidlandsrailway #class158 #class170 #turbostar #northern #class150 #sprinter #class156 #class323 #class331 #freightliner #class66 #dbcargo #britishrailways #crosscountrytrains #class220 #voyager #class221 #supervoyager