LAST month, the Government introduced a bill to connect the HS2 rail network between Crewe to Manchester.
Now, I’m always for more connectivity between regions. However, on closer examination, this Bill contains some proposals that would be disastrous for Tameside.
As part of the major construction involved with the project, it is likely that Metrolink services on the Ashton line will be suspended for a significant period of time – probably years – with a replacement bus service instead providing access from Ashton to New Islington on the effected line.
This is totally unacceptable. These Metrolink services are vital to people across Tameside, and they should not just be fobbed off with a rail replacement bus service.
I’m really angry about this proposal. Not just because of the inconvenience it will cause residents across Tameside, but also because it points to a wider attitude that Tameside could do without.
All too often, people in Tameside are not adequately considered in major decisions that will affect their lives. This kind of decision wouldn’t be imposed on any other region of the UK, so why should we tolerate it here?
I fail to see how the Government and rail planners didn’t appreciate the impact these works will have on Tameside. We can’t just mothball a crucial piece of public transport infrastructure. It’s a terrible idea.
I’ve been campaigning hard on this with Audenshaw Cllr Oliver Ryan, who feels just as strongly as I do about this issue. Cllr Ryan and I went out on the doorstep earlier this month and heard first-hand from residents who are understandably concerned about what this proposed plan will mean for them.
I want to reassure residents that I’ll be tabling amendments to this Bill and will be urging the Government to look at other ways of carrying out this construction work.
At the very least, the Government needs to ensure that trams continue to run between New Islington and Ashton whilst construction works are ongoing.
It’s worth pointing out that this would be Transport for Greater Manchester’s preferred option, but so far, the Government have sidestepped this request.
Local Councillors and I will not allow Tameside to be overlooked yet again. We will continue to fight locally and nationally to improve the lives of residents across the Borough. We all want to cut journey times, but this should not be at the expense of vital tram links.
We use the tram service regularly from Droylsden to various places the other side of Manchester, such as Bury, Media City and The Trafford Centre – changing where necessary. Also to the tram stop at Piccadilly Railway Station to catch a train to go farther afield. Any disruption on the Ashton line will cause problems but if it is changed to stopping and starting at New Islington how would I get into the station or even pick up a tram elsewhere to continue my journey.
I’m assuming the only answer you give will be via bus from New Islington to Piccadilly Gardens, so there will be disruption in any case.
Mr Gwynne,
I know you’re not in government,
but I wonder if you could explain why the government proposals are for the Manchester terminus, require the purchase of land & property on the Piccadilly Gardens side of Piccadilly station,
when the government ALREADY OWNS the old Mayfield railway station on the Mancunian Way side of Piccadilly station.?
The 2 stations are right next to eachother, on opposite sides of Fairfield Street.!
It would seem like the obvious place to build the new Manchester HSR terminal as so much of the approach infrastructure is already in place & there is available space around that station, which could be expanded into
AND the whole of Fairfield Street could potentially be built over to provide further space for the new station.
Still, when has good sense got in the way of government (bad) planning.?
Why handicap the metro service by closing it for 2years the metro link as proved to be the only future way for the public to travel the greatest way for the public to keep cars locked away and it will be proved to be the future green solution HS2 bully boys think fast train travel is the solution well may be train travel is another way to keep cars off the road but we are not Japan and we are not in that much of a hurry to cut a journey time by speed so spend any funds on an HS2 train and use it on metro lines around the country this is the future forget a pipe dream that will end up like concord and upgrade our present rail travel and improve the train comfort and joe public will enjoy there journey and not want flash in the pan HS2 train.