TRAIN CHAMPIONS are pushing to ensure disruption is kept to a minimum at Greenfield train station during works on the line ahead of electrification.
Part of Oldham Road could be closed for up to six months in 2016 while the bridge at the station, which has 300,000 rail passengers a year, is replaced.
But the Greenfield Rail Action Group (GRAG) is planning meetings with Oldham Council and Network Rail to try to avoid a lengthy closure and awkward diversions.
Richard Knowles, a GRAG member and university lecturer on Transport Geography, said: “We have seen the problems in Ashton and we don’t want that as our diversions would be even worse, going right through Mossley or Delph.”
A spokesperson for Network Rail said: “Works at this bridge are not planned in 2015.
“The project team are still working through the development process. Once this has been completed it will provide a better understanding of the options available.
“The team are committed to engaging with the local community and will be communicating with them as early as possible.”
Meanwhile, GRAG is also battling to get improved services along the line as part of franchise changes next year.
They have submitted a response to the stakeholder consultation including calls for investment in longer trains and platforms, disabled access, a ticket machine and twice hourly off-peak services.
They have held discussions with two of the franchisee bidders so far, as well as the Department of Transport, and have four more bidders to meet.
Richard commented: “They received us positively and gave us a number of things to think about as well as listening to our suggestions.
“We have made our case well for having two trains an hour for the number of passengers we have, but that cannot be solved easily until after electrification.”
A franchisee is expected to be announced in December 2015 and will take over in April 2016.
