Network Rail are currently running an online survey to find out what people think of railway stations and how to improve them.

It asks questions such as what you think of your local station and what facilities you would like to see there. Needless to say, the more people that complete the survey for Walkden the better our chances of making it into the improvement programme that Network Rail are planning.

Please take 15 minutes to visit Action Stations and complete the survey.

PS You will also be entered into a Prize Draw for an Annual Season Ticket or cash equivalent !

You may have read about the council’s Draft Core Strategy for Salford’s long-term development in your “Life in Salford” magazine. This plan has serious implications for Walkden station …

Conspicuous by its absence
The “Life in Salford” article doesn’t mention Walkden station at all, just a new park and ride facility at Irlam.

But in the Transport section of the full strategy document (available from www.itsyoursalford.info), the outlook for Walkden is grim … there are improvements for Swinton, Eccles, Irlam, Salford Crescent and Central stations: but nothing for Walkden station.

Metrolink Takeover ?
The strategy also reveals plans for a feasibility study into adapting the route for Metrolink trams. Trams may provide a more frequent service, but journey times may be longer as more stops are added to the route, fares will quite probably be higher, and the carriages themselves will be smaller, have less seats than trains, and no toilets.

Moreover, conversion to Metrolink could spell the end of through train services to places like Southport and Blackpool.

FOWS believe trains provide the very best fast, green route into the city and we do not want the line to be taken over by trams.

If you share our view, make sure you take part in Salford’s consultation process.
Let’s get proper improvements for Walkden built into the plan now !

The full results of yesterday’s passenger count by FOWS are now available on our website.

We only survey up to 1.30pm (for consistency with GMPTE’s passenger surveys) but with a grand total of 524 passengers using the station during this time, it’s a reasonable assumption that the station’s daily passenger count is over 1,000 !

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 !

The renovated Booking Hall roof

The scaffolding has been removed from the station now and the renovated roof can be seen in all its glory.

Thanks to the clean, new skylights and repainted lower walls the Entrance Hall, and Booking Hall, and Upper Stairway are all brighter, cleaner, more welcoming, and weather proof.

Thanks to Network Rail and their contractors for a grand job, and a special thank you from FOWS for taking care not to damage the plants in the flower beds during the course of the works.

The brighter Entrance Hall

We understand the local tannoy system installed at the station last week has some further technical issues so we must continue waiting for it to come into use.

Meanwhile Swinton station now boasts CCTV, departure boards, a departures TV screen in the booking hall, and a Help Point. Truly the railway works in mysterious ways …

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

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.

Spot the difference between the platform signs as first installed in September and now …

The platform signs in September ...

... and now

Yes … unfortunately Kirkby was spelt without the second “K” at the first attempt.

Happily the mistake has has been corrected now. Oops !

GMITA’s recent decision to support the introduction of a Sunday service at Walkden is the lead story in Walkden South Conservative’s latest newsletter.

FOWS is a non-political organisation and has no allegiance to any political party. However, we are happy to acknowledge any help that individual politicians lend to our cause and Councillor Iain Lindley has been an enthusiastic and vocal supporter of the station since FOWS was founded. Cllrs Les and Nicky Turner are also paid-up members of FOWS.

In the interests of balance we are also delighted to report the help and support we receive from Labour’s Barbara Keeley MP. Barbara has recently met Northern Rail again to keep up the pressure on them to introduce Sunday services and make other improvements (such as improving access to the station). We’re hoping to have more news from Barbara on this blog soon.

Incidentally, you might imagine that all the local councillors whose constituents rely on the station have been active supporters of FOWS and our campaigns, but sadly that isn’t the case. That’s the reason we’re happy to publicly thank those politicians who do help us – whichever party they belong to.

Why not ask your local councillors what they are doing to help press to service and facility improvements at Walkden station ?

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 !