Rochdale MP slams decision to pull restoration of Bury to Rochdale rail line
The ‘Restoring Your Railway Fund’ aims to reinstate axed local services and restore closed stations, and the application to restore the Bury–Heywood–Rochdale was successful in the first step
The MP for Rochdale has slammed the government’s decision to pull support on restoring the Bury–Heywood–Rochdale rail line.
Tony Lloyd, Labour MP for Rochdale, said the decision was a kick in the teeth for Rochdale and Greater Manchester.
The ‘Restoring Your Railway Fund’ aims to reinstate axed local services and restore closed stations, and the application to restore the Bury–Heywood–Rochdale was successful in the first step.
Now, the Minister of State for Transport informed Mr Lloyd and neighbouring MPs for Heywood & Middleton, Chris Clarkson, and Bury North, James Daly, that the application would not progress further owing to "cost and wider capacity challenges".
They went on to state that "that the scheme would be best considered as part of Greater Manchester’s City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS) programme."
Mr Lloyd said: "Tram and rail services from Rochdale to Manchester provide transport to the city centre but it doesn't provide the kind of connections we need to get around the city region, and in particular, from Rochdale and Heywood to Bury.
"Whilst there are future plans for tram-train services between Oldham, Rochdale, Heywood and Bury, these are way down the line and Transport for Greater Manchester are still looking at ways on how to fund this which will only be made more difficult with the withdrawal of this support.
"The Conservatives talk big on investing in economic growth and levelling up our communities, but when it comes to taking decisive action they're nowhere to be seen.
"At the end of the day, it's businesses and communities across Rochdale, and Heywood to Bury, which will lose out, not to mention the now-missed opportunities in reducing carbon emissions. The government must look at this decision again."
