Carriages boost for Rochdale and Calder Valley route

Greater Manchester commuters will benefit from the Department for Transport’s announcement today to provide 20 extra rail carriages for Northern Rail, say the region’s transport leaders.

This is the third injection of new rolling stock that the government has announced for Northern.

Transport for Greater Manchester says this will include a boost to some peak services between Bradford and Manchester, via Halifax, Hebden Bridge, Todmorden, Littleborough and Rochdale.

Transport for Greater Manchester’s Rail Programme Director Stephen Clark said: “Today’s announcement of more rolling stock for Northern Rail is very welcome.

“Although the benefit will be felt most in West Yorkshire, this is also good news for Greater Manchester, as it will mean that some peak-time trains on the busy Calder Valley route can be lengthened to ease overcrowding for commuters.

“We’ve worked closely with the West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive, and other northern PTEs, to make the case to the government for extra rolling stock across the north of England.

“It is very clear that poor transport between Manchester, Rochdale and the Calder Valley is limiting the economic potential of places along the rail route. Providing extra seats on trains goes some way to addressing this issue.

“Following today’s news on rail carriages and the confirmation in this year’s Budget that the first stage in the Northern Hub will be funded, we expect further, related announcements in due course that will also be directly beneficial to Greater Manchester’s rail network – and consequently its economy.”