Local councillors have hit out at a train company’s plan to stop running at Irlam Station, saying the move will ‘shaft’ residents. Earlier this month, it was announced that TransPennine Express will no longer be picking up the second train per hour during off peak times at the station from December 2022.
Network Rail, who spoke on behalf of TEP, say the move was made because a platform at the station needing an ‘upgrade’ and they are drawing up plans to make an ‘alteration’ as soon as possible. But Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett and local councillors from the Irlam, Cadishead and Peel Green ward have written a letter calling for the plans to be scrapped and for the platform works to be treated as an ‘urgent priority’.
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Speaking to the MEN, Cadishead and Lower Irlam ward councillor Lewis Nelson says he has been contacted by constituents, including parents with children who use the trains for school and shift workers who are ‘furious’ at the plans, which will see a 50% cut in services leaving the area with one train an hour. Councillor Nelson said: “This announcement flies in the face of passengers who are paying more and more for services.
"Local people and organisations have worked hard to improve Irlam Station over the last few years and it's now a thriving station. Parents of school children, shift workers and those who use trains for leisure have been in touch with me, furious that our little town with little infrastructure is being shafted once again.
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"Irlam Station is a source of pride locally, and only in the last couple of months has it been confirmed works to install step free access are taking place in spring 2023. Network Rail must ensure there are no cuts to services at Irlam, and works to raise the platform are treated as an urgent priority. Local councillors and the community will not sit silently on this"
A Network Rail spokesperson, said: “The rail industry is currently preparing for the next timetable change in December 2022 which promises to bring new routes and better train punctuality across the North. This work has identified that one of the platforms at Irlam station needs to be upgraded to allow a new Cleethorpes to Liverpool TransPennine Express service to stop there.
“We’re drawing up plans on how Network Rail can make this platform alteration as soon as possible. All Northern trains which currently serve this important station in Salford are unaffected.”
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