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Pressure group demands assurances on rail future

Dave Appleton
23/ 7/2004

LOCAL rail user group Storm - Support the Oldham Rochdale Manchester line - described the decision as a 'total disaster.'

And it called on Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Association to give an unequivocal assurance that the line will remain open.

"The PTA must insist that conventional rail continues around the Loop, otherwise the whole future of rail services between Shaw and Rochdale wil be in doubt," said Storm chairman, Richard Greenwood, who described the decision as a 'total and complete surprise.'

"When John Prescott gave permission for the Oldham Loop to close we had asked, along with the PTA, that permission only be granted in the event that it be replaced by Metrolink."

"Prescott refused to add this condition which now leaves us in the position where the whole future of the line is in jeopardy."

Mr Greenwood said that although no actual date had been fixed for the closure of the line to heavy rail, the various authorities were working to a 31 March deadline next year.

"This means that Network Rail has been dealing with problems on a care and maintenance basis and you can't blame them for that, while as there is no budget to keep it open, trains currently operating around the route have been re-allocated to other areas."

He said the amount of money wasted on the Metrolink project so far was incredible.

Storm secretary Peter Dawson said: "Unintentional or not, the treasury-led decision not to proceed with Metrolink has again widened the North-South divide. Will it ever be our turn?"