FOWS Passenger Count 2009 and passenger numbers keep on rising … !

Today we conducted our annual passenger count and we’re now collating the data. The full stats will appear on our website in the next couple of days.

In the meantime, here are the headline figures:

* Overall number of passengers using the station from 6am to 1.30pm up 2% since last year: from 511 to 524 passengers

* Peak-time travel into Manchester is down 7% from 227 to 210

* Passengers boarding trains towards Wigan were up 44% from 48 to 69

As we say every year, our survey provides only a snapshot on a “typical” working day. All the same, it is quite amazing that passenger numbers have continued to climb – albeit at a lower rate – after the economic downturn the country has experienced this year.

And, even though peak-time travel into Manchester was slightly down on last year (in line with rising unemployment), and the fact we now have an extra train during the morning peak, there were still 20 passengers left stranded as they were unable to board the jam-packed 0818.

FOWS encourage all passengers let down in situations like this to fill in a Complaint Form and send it Freepost to Northern Rail. It’s not the Booking Office staff’s fault (they wish there were more trains too), but they do stock Northern’s Complaints Forms.

Only by filing complaints each time the train is overcrowded will Walkden climb up Northern Rail’s priorities … so stand up for yourselves !

“All change” at Walkden …

Freshly painted stairway walls and a new roof make very welcome improvements to Walkden station

October has arguably been the best month for Walkden station since FOWS was launched in February 2007, with numerous, sizeable improvement projects coming to fruition.

Firstly the roof renovation is nearly complete and looking infinitely smarter than the old roof. The new roof should be water-proof again, so the water damage caused by leaks onto the stairways should become a thing of the past.

After Network Rail rejected our initial request to repaint the stairway walls (arguing this was the responsibility of Northern Rail) we were delighted when the decision was reversed and the whole length of the stairway and Booking Hall walls were freshly painted. The results are a vast improvement on the grubby, stained walls we had before.

The long-awaited tannoy system is also nearing “go-live” too, and may even be working by the time you read this. Having a local tannoy will enable staff to inform passengers of delays without having to close the Booking Office to walk up to the platform.

For a more detailed review of the station’s improving condition, check out our latest station condition report.

And FOWS are doing their bit too … pending a council funding decision today we hope to have winter plants installed in the gardens very soon.

FOWS welcome Pam Williams

FOWS were delighted to welcome Pam Williams to our meeting this week. Pam is the new Northern Rail Station Manager for this side of Manchester.

Pam only moved into the new role recently so we were especially pleased that she kindly made the time to come and meet FOWS so soon. We had some very productive discussions about issues at the station and potential solutions, and Pam was more than happy to take away some actions like arranging more visits by Northern Rail’s Response team to tackle the persistent littering and graffiti problems.

All in all it was a great start to what we hope is going to develop into a successful, long-term relationship.

Welcome to Walkden Pam – we hope you enjoy your time here !

FOWS at the GMITA Transport Seminar

FOWS attended a seminar at Manchester Town Hall this week organised by GMITA. There were interesting presentations from other Friends groups in the area (FRECCLES, Handforth and the award-winning Friends of Glossop), Network Rail, GMITA, ACORP and Northern Rail.

As well as manning a small display on FOWS’ achievements at Walkden, it was a great opportunity to share ideas with friends, and build up our relationships with the rail industry.

Our representatives have come back with some great ideas picked up from other groups and we’ll be trying to get some of them off the ground shortly !

FOWS meet Northern Rail at the Business North West Conference

FOWS Chairman Peter Aust with Elissa Robinson from Northern Rail

Hello FOWS Bloggers, I was working at the Business North West at Manchester Central this week and during a break took a look around the exhibition stands and guess what? a Northern Rail stand came into view.

Never wanting to miss an opportunity to remind Northern of our objectives, I had a few words with the charming Elissa Robinson, Sales Manager who was looking after the stand at the time.

Although of course our problems do not fall into her area of responsible Elissa listened sympathetically and – who knows ? – the message may get through, whatever, we must keep on message !!

Peter

Pillar as good as new !

Freshly painted pillar on platform 1

Thanks to Northern and Network Rail for fixing the first pillar on the Manchester platform which has been over-flowing and corroding since the canopy was repainted last summer.

The freshly painted pillar looks great and we’re delighted the water damage to this part of the station’s fabric has been staunched.

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.

Newton Heath depot visit

A class 142 in the depot at Newton Heath

Thanks to our friends at Northern, FOWS today visited Newton Heath depot for an informal open day commemorating the last day of trains running on the Oldham Loop.

We were given an interesting tour of the repair and paintshops by Northern staff who had kindly come in on their days off to act as hosts and guides.

The depot’s 200-strong workforce’s achievements are impressive, coaxing much improved reliability out of the 100+ aged diesel units in their care. Passengers will also have noticed the on-going refurbishment process which has seen nearly all of the units turned out in Northern colours, and many of them fitted with new and better quality seating, wheelchair spaces and areas with tip-up seats that can accommodate bicycles.

Freshly painted class 156 unit outside NewtonHeath depot

We were interested to learn that Northern’s trains are all painted by hand: it takes a team of 6 painters 3 days to complete a unit like the freshly out-shopped example shown here.

A big thank you to the Northern staff, both for today’s visit and their excellent work improving an aging fleet on a limited budget.

Meet The Manager – A “Thank You”

A quick “Thank You” to Northern Rail’s Chris Ingham and Peter Gedding for their “Meet The Manager” session at the station yesterday morning.

It’s great that Northern’s management are willing to come and meet the travelling public like this.

We understand not that many people took the chance to talk to Chris which is a great shame – he’s very approachable and genuinely interested passengers’ views. What’s more, if issues don’t get raised at events like this the “powers that be” in Northern HQ will be less likely to believe there are any major problems at Walkden.

Pillar repairs

Judging by the cones and “Men At Work” signs clustered around its base, the first pillar on the Manchester platform is being repaired by Network Rail.

The gutter that runs down the interior of this pillar has been blocked for some time, causing rainwater to overflow onto the platform and stream down the pillar’s exterior. It should have been unblocked (as the others were) when the canopy was repainted last summer, but for some reason this pillar was overlooked

FOWS have been reporting the problem in our monthly reports to Northern Rail for the last year, and Northern have been chasing the station owners Network Rail on our behalf.

We’re delighted the work is under way and would like to thank Northern and Network for taking action to preserve the fabric and appearance of the station.