The final shape of Rochdale's TIF package

Final changes to the proposed Transport Innovation Fund (TIF) package for Rochdale, Heywood and Middleton were announced following a meeting of the Leaders of the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities (AGMA) today (Friday 31 October).

If the TIF package is given the go ahead by voters in next month's referendum, Rochdale will get a Metrolink stop at Kingsway Business Park and a Metrolink loop into Rochdale town centre down Drake Street and the East Lancashire Railway will be developed to run through Heywood.

The East Lancs railway would be developed using Local Transport Plan funding but if the referendum returns a 'no' vote, this funding will be used elsewhere.

Other parts of the TIF package that are unique to Rochdale include:

Trains running through Rochdale at peak times would have extra carriages, with more seats on trains running through Rochdale, Mills Hill, Castleton and Smithy Bridge.

Rochdale, Castleton and Smithy Bridge stations would all be improved and Rochdale station will benefit from new park and ride facilities.

Buses from Rochdale to Syke, via Rochdale Infirmary, would run every 10 minutes Monday to Saturday daytimes (every 30 minutes evenings and Sundays). Services from Rochdale to Manchester via Middleton and Harpurhey, Bury to Manchester via Heywood, Langley, Middleton and Harpurhey, and Middleton to Manchester via Rhodes and Cheetham, would run every seven to eight minutes during the day Monday to Saturday (every 20 minutes evenings and Sundays). The Rochdale to Bury service, via Sudden and Heywood, would run every seven to eight minutes during the day Monday to Saturday (every 30 minutes in the evening).

Two new on-road cycle routes will run between Middleton and Manchester city centre.