A GROUP campaigning for a new beginning for a railway station that saw just 12 people use it in a year hope a survey seals what it craves – a regular service.
According to latest figures, just a dozen people got on or off at Denton, a drop of 87 per cent from the previous year available.
Contrast that with nearby Guide Bridge, which recorded more than 75,000 entries and exits.
Its out of town location and the fact its a once-a-week ‘Parliamentary’ train between Stalybridge and Stockport was removed saw it rank 2,556th of 2,569 in a report on how busy stations are.
The report by the Office of Rail and Road, using figures taken between April 2020 and March 2021, says only 12 people bought tickets from Denton, with 96 doing so between 2019 and 2020.
Abererch, Llanbedr and Sugar Loaf in Wales, Beasdale in Highland, Sampford Courtenay in Devon and Stanlow and Thornton in Cheshire made Denton look positively busy after recording zero usage.
But hopes are high a passenger service between Stockport and Manchester Victoria or Stalybridge, running via Denton and Reddish South stations, can be brought in by the Restoring Your Railway Fund.
And the Friends of Reddish South and Denton Stations Campaign Group hopes enough people put forward a strong enough case by the closing date on June 24.
A spokesman said: “We are campaigning for a new rail route which would greatly improve travel to the city and town centres, without traffic congestion and parking problems.
“This would mean revival of Stockport Station as an interchange where passengers can decide whether they wish to go north to Piccadilly or Manchester Victoria, as well as being able to go to Stockport Station directly without driving and expensive parking to continue your journey south.
“We have been campaigning for the reinstatement of regular rail passenger services from Stockport to Manchester Victoria via Reddish South and Denton stations – which closed in 1992.
“The Friends have had a part in the bid to receive funding in the Restoring Your Railway Government scheme to finance a feasibility study, now underway, into a new, regular rail passenger service for Reddish South and Denton residents as well as better connectivity for the whole region.Now, we need your help.”
The Friends group has had a strong supporter in local MP Andrew Gwynne, whose Denton and Reddish constituency takes in both Reddish South and Denton, which stands on Manchester Road North, close to the M67 motorway.
If it is introduced, the line would call at Denton and travel through Audenshaw before linking up with the Manchester Victoria-Stalybridge line at Ashton Moss.
And Mr Gwynne encouraged residents to take part in the short survey, which was run by Transport for Greater Manchester, as well as one for a service between Rose Hull (Marple) and Stockport.
“This scheme would massively improve transport connectivity for people right across Denton and Reddish,” he said.
“I’m therefore really grateful to TfGM for running the two surveys and using the views of residents to inform the Strategic Outline Business Case for this scheme.”