A TAMESIDE railway station is set to see big changes as volunteers make their mark.
The Friends of Hyde Loop are taking on a project to alter the surroundings at Hyde Central.
20 display panels will be fixed to the platform rear wall to illustrate the progression of the railways since 1825, which will also ties in with the forthcoming national anniversary of Rail 200 during September.
Combined, they will provide a timeline of historical, educational and social change influenced by the railway over two centuries with images from the Manchester Locomotive Society.
Each one will also have a local link with an inscription of a different group in the area along the bottom. For example, ‘Home of the Bangladesh Welfare Association’, plus its website web address.
A targeted date of September 20 will also see the switch on of the wayfinding spiral LED lighting system, which marks the route to the station, which is accessed from Great Norbury Street, from the town centre, promoting a safer, direct and easy to follow route.
There will also be the local launch of the new and historic Steel and Cotton Trail, which offers a walking and cycling route between Sheffield and Manchester via the Hope Valley, the Hyde access point is to the rear of Hyde Central Station.
Dignitaries and members of 20 community organisations have been invited to the launch event as efforts are made to bring new life to Hyde Central.
Work is being done by the Friends of Hyde Loop – which also supports Hyde North and Woodley stations – and Hyde Together CIC, while funding for the lighting and platform panels has come from The Accelerator Programme Delivery Group.
The Community Rail Development Group via South East Manchester Community Rail Partnership with funds from the Department of Transport has also contributed to the project.
Last September, artwork honouring local running legend Dr Ron Hill was unveiled at Hyde Central station.
*ANYONE looking to get involved with Friends Of Hyde Loop can contact them via email at friendsofhydeloop@gmail.com or through their Twitter or Facebook pages.