Read Barbara Keeley’s speech on Walkden and the TIF

The full text of Worsley MP Barbara Keeley’s recent speech, which opened the parliamentary debate on Manchester’s TIF bid, can be read online here.

Ms Keeley eloquently describes the problems at Walkden station in detail, as well as other problems with the inaccessibility and poor provision of public transport in our area.

As Ms Keeley quite rightly says “There is only limited use of rail networks through Atherton and Walkden for commuting into Manchester, because the services are overcrowded and subject to other problems, too. Express trains from Atherton do not stop at Walkden, because of the limited length of the platform. The two-carriage trains that do stop there tend to be full, and 30, 40 or more people are regularly left there in the morning peak hour, because they cannot get on the overcrowded trains.”

“Access to Walkden station is poor. There are two flights of stairs and no lift. The facilities are outdated and the station infrastructure is in urgent need of renewal. There are no car-parking facilities at the station apart from parking in nearby residential streets.”

Ms Keeley’s speech is well worth reading for anyone who has an interest in the TIF bid – which should mean all users of Walkden station ! - and FOWS are very grateful for her continuing fight to secure improvements at Walkden.

Walkden in line for TIF Improvements

This week’s approval of Greater Manchester’s bid for up to £3 billion of investment by Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly could signal significant improvements for Walkden station and trains along the Atherton line.

Walkden is highlighted on GMPTE’s TIF Map for TIF Funded Improvements which FOWS understand to include CCTV, real-time passenger information and improved signage at the station. The Atherton line – along with the Eccles line – is also singled out for additional carriages to ease congestion, although these might quickly be filled by additional passengers using the new proposed Park & Ride facility at Atherton.

Although there is some way to go before the TIF project becomes a reality and the improvements will not be seen for a few years yet, we are pleased that GMPTE have recognised Walkden’s particular need for modernisation in their plans.

Cable and Lead Thieves Hit Walkden

Overnight theft of cables along the Walkden line caused misery for thousands of commuters last Monday as trains had to proceed under safety conditions due to the theft of signalling cable overnight.

And this weekend Walkden station has been hit by thieves who’ve stolen the lead flashing from the station roof, making the roof and joints susceptible to leaking and rain damage.

These attacks cause massive losses and inconvenience to the travelling public – if you see any suspicious activity on or around the railway line please report it immediately to British Transport Police on 0800 40 50 40

Lucky Swinton gets £50,000 investment

You may have seen the article in last week’s Salford Advertiser about the £50,000 grant that GMPTE have secured from the Department of Transport for improvements to Swinton station. No-one could deny Swinton needs improvement, but FOWS are at a loss to understand how Swinton was prioritised above Walkden when:

• Walkden has many more passengers than Swinton
• Walkden is missing all the same facilities that Swinton is missing
• Walkden has more steps to the platform
• Walkden does not have a pedestrian crossing outside
• Walkden doesn’t even have a front door to secure it at night !

This comes on top of last year’s announcement of GMPTE grants to Bolton and Wigan councils to improve facilities at stations between Atherton and Wigan.

FOWS are writing to GMPTE to ask for an explanation of their priorities for local stations.

Salford Central refurbishment nears completion

	Salford Central station’s late-running renovation work is nearly complete and the new glass entrance hall is a great improvement on its predecessor. Inside the station the tunnel to the platforms is looking spectacular as the brick arches have been exposed and beautifully lit from below.
	On the platform things aren’t so pretty … there’s very little sign of change apart from the welcome addition of electronic information displays, albeit hidden behind ghastly floor-to-ceiling cages.  Is the risk of vandalism so high or has someone just installed the displays at such a low height that cages are needed to stop people bumping their heads ?
	The number of security cameras makes you wonder what kind of assault GMPTE are expecting … we counted 27 criss-crossing every imaginable area of the station. What a pity GMPTE say they can’t afford 2 cameras for Walkden ?