Liz McInnes MP responds to the ‘rail service problems’

Francesca Barker and Richard Greenwood from Support the Oldham, Rochdale and Manchester lines (STORM) rail user group have both recently written about local rail services problems and service:

• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/123996/francesca-barker-a-regular-traveller-on-northern-trains-says-enough-is-enough

• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/124157/rail-service-problems-no-quick-and-easy-fix

Liz McInnes MP for Heywood and Middleton says: “Rail services in Greater Manchester and public transport services as a whole across the North are in desperate need of investment. This is something I’ve raised often in meetings with local government leaders, transport chiefs and Ministers.

“Government figures released this week and analysed by the Institute for Public Policy Research show that since the launch of the so-called Northern Powerhouse in 2014 transport spending per person has increased twice as much in London as in the North - transport spending per person, per year here in the North West is £528 compared to £1,019 per person in London. This clearly isn’t good enough for our region.

“Alongside other MPs and council leaders, I have recently co-signed a letter to Transport for the North calling for Heywood to be reconnected to the national rail network together with Rawtenstall, Ramsbottom, and Bury. And earlier this year I welcomed news that after a great deal of lobbying by myself and Rochdale Council, TfGM have finally signalled their support for the Metrolink system to be extended to Middleton. If we want to get the region growing then we need to get it moving, and these two developments would be a good start.

“I will continue to do all I can to lobby the government and transport officials for the investment our local rail network and our public transport system needs.”

 

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