Full steam ahead for Heywood Railway Station upgrades

Date published: 26 February 2019

Upgrades to improve Heywood’s Railway Station are steaming ahead to make access to the East Lancashire Railway station easier than ever.

Railway Street is being extended onto Manchester Street to create a new entrance for the station between the railway bridge and Il Vecchio’s restaurant.

The station was previously accessed via Railway Street from Green Lane, despite being yards away from Manchester Street. The bus stop currently located there will be moved in order for the new access route to be completed.

An exhibition room dedicated to the famous Flying Scotsman locomotive, the first steam engine in the world to hit 100mph, is also set to be created.

• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/118759/flying-scotsman-returns-to-the-east-lancs-railway

The engine will be based in Heywood for repairs by specialist engineers at local company Riley and Son Ltd. Riley spent ten years restoring the renowned locomotive, before it returned to the rails at the beginning of 2016.

• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/1/business-news/106112/riley-and-son-return

Further investments into a café created from a vintage steam carriage and a children’s play area have also been made, whilst messy vegetation has also been removed, following the purchase of the small piece of council land by adjacent business, V.A Whiteley and Co.

Chairman of Heywood Township and local councillor, Peter Rush, hopes that the improvements will bring more people into the town whilst improving congestion and road safety on Railway Street.

He said: “The main concern was to protect the residents of Railway Street from traffic congestion, whilst making the station easier to find.

“The station, and indeed, the whole surrounding area is looking really good now, with East Lancashire Railway also looking to invest in a vintage bridge, ideal for photo opportunities.

“We are looking forward to the increased footfall, especially with the Scotsman being in Heywood.”