How good to walk into the station this morning and be greeted by the smell of fresh coffee brewing !
Our FOWS Food Critic – a self-confessed coffee snob – tried the coffee and a muffin from Cafe Chino’s new stall in the Booking Hall and judged them “lovely” !
We’re absolutely delighted to announce that Cafe Chino will be operating a coffee and cake stall on the station from this Thursday morning.
I don’t suppose many people thought we’d have a hot coffee stall at Walkden station any time soon, so please show your support for this initiative and give the refreshments a try.
The stall will operate from around 06.45 to 08.30 to begin with (the hours may change depending on demand), and the bill of fare is shown below. I don’t know what Aussie Crunch is but it could be just the thing to start your day !
A massive “Thank you” to Marina from Cafe Chino, and to Northern Rail for allowing the scheme to go ahead on the station.
We’re delighted that the Little Hulton and Walkden Community Committee – who generously funded our Sunday Service Gala – have featured it on the front page of their Summer 2010 newsletter.
All households in the area should receive a copy soon – but if you’re out of the area you can download the newsletter here.
The 9th annual Manchester Exodus festival takes place this Sunday afternoon in Albert Square. The festival is family-friendly and free and offers an amazing variety of music and dance on two stages – including Polish hip-hop, Gambian drumming, and Congolese pop among 25 international acts.
Of course, the Sunday train service from Walkden is the ideal way to visit – with no worries about car parking in town.
For full details see the Visit Manchester web page.
Our colleagues at FRECCLES (the Friends of Eccles Station) have produced an excellent news letter including ticket information and a suggestion for a day out in North Wales: ECCLES STATION NEWS July 2010
The news letter also advertises an open day on Saturday 11th September from 11.00 and 14.00 to celebrate the 180th anniversary of the station.
Sad to say the station continues to be subject to mindless vandalism and graffiti. One of our Salford In Bloom planters is the latest casualty – stupidly set on fire.
Beside the obvious loss of a pleasant feature from the station, the arsonists took a huge risk starting a fire so close to the wooden fence and expanse of dry grass beyond.
British Transport Police are investigating the arson with the help of several other agencies.
This latest incident reinforces FOWS’ view that the station needs CCTV protection for the benefit of passengers, staff and property. Hundreds of pounds have been spent this year alone making good damaged and stolen property, and passengers tell us how much safer they would feel if CCTV cameras covered the station.
Come on Northern/GMPTE – we’re doing our bit to try and improve the station, but it needs CCTV protection !
Salford Ranger Team are bringing the Cirque Du Salford to Peel Park in Ram Street, Little Hulton this Saturday (10th July) from 12 – 3pm.
The circus is free and features hula hoopers, face-painters, a magician, musicians, fortune telling, and much more – a show to “amaze and delight all ages” !
For full details call the Salford Rangers Team on 790 7746 or visit the Cirque Du Salford webpage.
Continuing our series of ideas for days out on the new Sunday service, we feature the fascinating Standedge Tunnel Visitor Centre in the beautiful pennine town of Marsden.
Standedge Tunnel is a remarkable engineering feat: the highest, longest, and deepest canal tunnel in the UK !
The Tunnel Visitor Centre is a pretty 15-minute walk from Marsden station along the canal towpath and tells the remarkable history of the tunnel. It also offers a cafe and outdoor picnic area beside the canal.
Other activities available include:
There’s a full programme of special events including:
Please see the Standedge Tunnel website for full details of these and other attractions.
Marsden is reached by changing train at Manchester Victoria. Some suggested times are detailed below – but please check your journey on National Rail Enquiries before travelling as weekend engineering works can affect services.
Take the 09.37 from Walkden (arrive Victoria 09.58) and change at Victoria to the 10.43 to Marsden arriving 11.15. Both services run approximately hourly during the day. PLEASE NOTE there are bus replacements between Victoria and Stalybridge for much of July and August as Marsden trains are diverted to/from Piccadilly.
The service pattern is approximately hourly for the return journey too. The last advertised connection leaves Marsden at 16.50 and arrives back to Victoria at 17.26 (or slightly later – at 17.42 – when the bus replacement is running). The last train to Walkden leaves Victoria at 18.12.
Train times between Victoria and Marsden change on September 12 but there will still be some services operated as bus replacements. Full details can be found on National Rail Enquiries’ Journey Planner website.
Sample fares include:
Off-peak Adult Return: £10.30
Off-peak Child Return: £5.15
The last train out from Victoria (the 23.20) is replaced by a bus each evening from next Monday (5th July) until Thursday (8th).
The usual warnings about the bus being slower, lacking toilets, cycle space etc apply.
Only the last Wigan bound train of each evening is affected by bus replacement – all other services are due to run normally.
Friends of Walkden Station\'s Weblog 