THE CAMPAIGN TO secure full disabled access at Greenfield Train Station is being stepped up by Oldham Council.
Network Rail is planning to replace the pedestrian bridge and lift the highway bridge at the station as part of works to electrify the Manchester-Huddersfield railway line.
The eastbound platform currently has no disabled access and the local authority wants this rectified as part of the plans.
But the Department for Transport (DfT) recently confirmed the station was not among those nominated for such improvements under the government’s Access for All scheme.
Jim McMahon, Oldham Council Leader, and Carolyn Wilkins, Chief Executive, have now written to Debbie Abrahams, MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth, Jon Lamonte, Chief Executive of Transport for Greater Manchester, and Patrick McLoughlin MP, the Secretary of State for Transport.
Jim McMahon said: “Network Rail has advised us that their budget for the electrification project does not include provision of full disabled access at Greenfield Station.
“Although their plans mean the station will be DDA compliant – incorporating the potential for disabled lift shafts in the replacement bridge – they say the cost of actually providing the lifts would be around half to three quarters of a million pounds.
“Oldham Council’s view is that not providing the lifts now is a false economy and that costs could actually be reduced by carrying out the entire project at the same time.
“Greenfield is a busy station and needs to be accessible to all, from elderly and disabled users to parents with pushchairs.”
The Greenfield Rail Action Group has also previously written to rail authorities to push for improved disabled access at the station.
This year they have recently been influential in getting earlier trains from Greenfield into Manchester Victoria and better connectivity with services at Stalybridge.
And they have recently submitted suggestions for improved local train services to rail authorities in response to proposals for the next franchise from February 2016.
Their suggestions include longer trains to primarily Manchester Victoria rather than Manchester Piccadilly and a half-hourly service from 2018 after electrification.
They want the £5.80 ‘tunnel tax’ on fares between Greenfield and Marsden to be abolished, better quality railway carriages and higher frequencies to cater for continued traffic growth.
They also want to see ticket machines installed at Greenfield station and better co-ordination of bus and rail timetables to provide timely and reliable connections.
MP Debbie Abrahams has also responded to the franchise consultation to call for improvements to services.
She said: “Investing in better quality and more railway carriages is imperative in order to meet growing demand.
“There is evidence of the number of carriages being reduced recently, making commuting periods in particular very cramped. This must be addressed.
“Better rolling stock would encourage more people to use the network but, from speaking to constituents, they say they’ll h
This is a red herring. The Council should be pushing to re-instate the direct line through Werneth and mumps, through the Lydgate tunnel and on to Greenfield so Oldham is linked by Tram to transpeninne trains.