Sheffield and Midland Railway Companies' Committee

Meanwhile, The Great Northern Railway was also averse to more competition in the area, and the MS&LR wished to expand southwards from its main line from Manchester, via Penistone, to Sheffield.

c. clxxviii) of 6 August 1872[1] In 1867 the line had opened into Manchester Store Street, by then renamed London Road (now Piccadilly), which the MS&LR shared with the LNWR.

Increasing friction with LNWR led to the Cheshire Lines Committee being formed and when Manchester Central opened in 1880 trains were diverted at Romiley through Stockport Teviot Dale (as it was originally spelt).

However, by the end of the century congestion around Stockport had increased, and with speed limits, gradients and curves, the Midland looked for yet another route.

There are hopes that this will extend further in the future through Heaton Mersey, and then leaving the alignment and heading into Stockport town centre.