FOWS make the case for Walkden with Transport bosses and planners

Our Chairman Peter Aust has sent this report of his meeting with transport “top brass” and politicians – another example of how FOWS works, often behind the scenes, to secure improvements for Walkden station.

FOWS Chairman Peter Aust meeting Shadow Transport Minister Stephen Hammond MP

Hello Friends, On Monday last in my capacity as Chair of FOWS I attended a seminar at Manchester Town Hall entitled ” The Future of Rail in the North. The Speakers were Stephen Hammond MP, Shadow Transport Minister Edward Timpson MP,Crewe & Natwich Councillor Ian Macdonald, Vice Chairman GMITA Paul Plummer, Director, Planning & Regulation, Network Rail It was ably chaired by TV Presenter Andy Crane.

There were plenty of discussions about the Manchester Hub (not just about Manchester) that is a major bottleneck on the rail network that negatively impacts on rail services for the whole of the North of England and the proposal of a high-speed line from London to Glasgow, which would include a stop at Manchester. It was fortunate that Cllr Iain Lindley who was in attendance highlighted to the panel the importance also of the issues concerning local rail stations such as Walkden, yes! Walkden got a mention!!

I had the chance to meet a few of the top brass and spread the word about FOWS, Tom Wadsworth, Communications Manager of Network Rail, Emma Pemberton-Eccles, Public Affairs Manager Network Rail and even a quick word and a photo opportunity with Stephen Hammond, MP, Shadow Transport Minister.

Sunday services come a step closer

At a meeting last Friday GMITA’s Train & Metrolink Committee gave its support to a proposal to introduce an hourly Sunday service from Wigan to Manchester via Atherton, Walkden and Swinton.

This is an exciting step forward, and one which FOWS are very grateful to the committee members for taking, but it doesn’t mean the service will necessarily go ahead … the budget has yet to be approved by a separate committee.

The story is featured in today’s Boton Evening News, including quotes from one of the councillors (David Wilkinson) who supported the proposal and FOWS chair Peter Aust.

So we can’t count any chickens just yet, but fingers crossed we may be getting closer to Sunday trains running again from Walkden !

FOWS would like to express their thanks to staff and councillors at Northern Rail and GMITA who have supported our campaign and worked hard to bring the Sunday trains proposal so much closer to fruition.

Government U-turn on carriages means more over-crowding on Walkden trains

As reported in last week’s Manchester Evening News, the Department of Transport appear to have reneged on their commitment to provide Northern Rail with 180 new carriages in the next couple of years. According to transport chiefs at GMPTE the government are now saying only 106 carriages will be provided – that’s a reduction of over 40%.

This is bound to adversely affect Northern Rail’s ability to introduce new trains on routes around Manchester which, like the Walkden line, are suffering overcrowding in peak hours and also off-peak sometimes too.

We urge anyone concerned by this let-down to write to their MP asking him or her to protest to the Department of Transport and fight for the full allocation of desperately needed new carriages for local train services.

Free off-peak travel for people over 60

Are you over 60 ? Did you know that you can use the national concessionary travel pass (often refered to as the concessionary bus pass) for free travel on off-peak trains in the Greater Manchester area.

That is to say, FREE travel on …
* trains between 9.30am and midnight (Monday-Friday), and all day on weekends & Bank Holidays
* trains to all stations in the GM area which includes Wigan, Bolton, Salford, Eccles, Manchester, Stockport, Glossop, Altrincham, Flixton, Cheadle Hulme, Marple, Rochdale, Ashton-under-Lyne, Oldham, Smithy Bridge (for Hollinwood Lake) … to name just a few !

The national concessionary travel pass also gives you half-price travel in the same area before 9.30am on Mondays to Fridays.

For more information ask for the leaflet “National Concessionary Travel Pass for Greater Manchester” from any manned station or check the details on the GMPTE website.

GMPTE Transport funding boost

You may have seen on the news that a massive £244m of funding has been brought forward or released to improve public transport in Greater Manchester.

Initial reports suggest the majority of funding will be spent on Metrolink and bus schemes rather than rail, but we will be asking GMPTE if money can be found to fund any of Walkden station’s desperately needed improvements.

A message for cyclists

We kindly ask you not to use the flower beds for locking up bikes as this can only lead to damage for the plants.

To be quite honest, tucked away around the corner where the kids hang out is probably not the most secure place to leave your bike anyway.

We are in touch with GMPTE about the provision of bike lockers on the station – if this is something you’d be interested in please post a comment here so we can demonstrate interest in the proposal.

FOWS call for matching commitment from Northern/GMPTE at Annual General Meeting

The audience at last week’s FOWS Annual General Meeting heard speakers from GMPTE, GMPTA and Northern Rail give updates on their organisations efforts towards improving Walkden station.

The meeting opened with reports from FOWS Chair Peter Aust and Secretary Neil Stapleton which reflected on a busy and productive year for the group. However, the reports concluded that matching levels of commitment and improvements have not been seen from either station owners or operators, a failure that leaves the station with the same infrastructure problems as noted last year, and whose contrast with FOWS’ efforts is causing increasing frustration within the group.

A statement from local MP Barbara Keeley catalogued the considerable effort she has put into championing the station’s cause this year, including a series of meetings and communications with Heidi Mottram of Northern Rail and mentioning the station’s dire facilities in Parliament debates.

Steve Magner and Cllr Ian Macdonald from GMPTE and GMPTA respectively acknowledged the group’s frustration and advised more patience will be required. Whilst confident that improvements will be made to the station over the next few years, they could not commit to timescales or explain the criteria that has been used to exclude Walkden from the first batch of stations to receive GMPTA investment.

Chris Ingham of Northern Rail reported on the company’s improved reliability figures achieved during the last monitoring period but said Network Rail have still not reported back to Northern about the costs of re-opening the full length of platform, meaning there has been no tangible progress on this issue for 12 months.

Sunday services have been the topic of discussions between GMPTE and Northern Rail, but the estimated costs provided by Northern Rail to start the service in November are currently beyond GMPTE’s reach. Negotiations are continuing to explore ways of reducing the cost of the service.

Memberships for 2009 were renewed (it’s just £1 a year for anyone interested !) and several new members were welcomed to the group.

Another chance to comment on train services

Walkden station users have another chance to comment on services at a public consultation session at Victoria station next Tuesday (6th Jan) from 4pm to 6pm.

The session has been organised by GMPTE and will be attended by representatives of GMPTE, GMPTA and local bus and train operators.

So, if you’re not happy with any aspect of the services or (non) facilities at Walkden station, why not go along and let local transport bosses know about it ?

More support for Sunday Services

Barbara Keeley meets Northern Rail MD Heidi Mottram

Regular readers of this blog will know that Worsley MP Barbara Keeley has been an active supporter of FOWS since our formation, and a long-time campaigner for Walkden station. Barbara has recently been pressing Northern Rail again to investigate a Sunday service from Walkden, and has received an update from their Area Director West Lee Wasnidge.

Mr Wasnidge has assured Barbara that the possibility of a Sunday service along the Walkden line is under discussion between Northern and GMPTE (who would need to part-subsidise the service), and that Northern will be working hard to turn this prospect into a success.

We regard this as a further encouraging sign that Sunday services are being given serious consideration by GMPTE and Northern Rail.

Support for Sunday services campaign

FOWS recently wrote to all 3 Salford councillors who sit on GMPTA’s Transport Network Committee to press our case for Sunday services from Walkden. Our letter mentioned the support of station adopters and users from along the route at Atherton and Daisy Hill, from local MP Barbara Keeley and the Manchester Chamber of Commerce. We stressed how valuable the service would be for both business and leisure travel, and recounted how we regularly meet dozens of disappointed would-be passengers when we work at the station on Sundays.

We were delighted to receive a letter of support from Worsley Councillor Ian Macdonald who is also Chair of the Transport Network Committee, and to learn that subsequently he has spoken in favour of Sunday services at a recent meeting between Northern Rail and GMPTA.