Council announces plans to remove congestion

Date published: 27/06/2008

A feasibility study has been carried out by one of the UK's most experienced transportation consultancies Faber Maunsell on plans which would see less congestion on the roads in and around Bury and give locals a way to travel to work in style.

The proposals went to executives at East Lancashire Railway last night and will be considered by Bury Council's Executive on July 9. Plans involve using a £17m slice of the Transport Innovation Fund cash to get commuters to work on a state-of-the-art diesel electric trains running on the heritage railway line.

There are two alternative routes in the proposal which would mean commuters could travel from Rawtenstall to Manchester Victoria Monday to Friday during peak times.

One route would mean the steam train travelling from Rawtensall to Bolton Street Station in Bury and then continuing from the station to Buckley Wells where commuters would link with the existing Metrolink service to Manchester.

The other route within the proposals would mean that commuters are taken on an onward journey via Bolton Street Station in Bury, past the town hall up to Rochdale where the line would be remodelled at Castleton Junction before going on to Manchester Victoria.

Faber Maunsell has estimated that the proposals could cost £15m with operating costs of £2.5m at today's prices.

Further work will now be carried out on a 'demand study' which will identify how many people would potentially use the train to travel to work.

Work so far has been carried out in partnership with Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive (GMPTE), Bury Council, Lancashire County Council, Rochdale Council and Rossendale Council.

It is anticipated that the new scheme would remove a considerable quantity of traffic from the M66 and in a north and southbound direction through Bury. It would also have a significant impact on traffic further south of the Borough.

Bury Council intends to continue its lobbying campaign to ensure that plans come to fruition, funded by the money available from the £3bn TIF money.

Councillor Bob Bibby Leader of Bury Council said: "There needs to be something in the TIF bid for the people of Bury. I have pressed for this measure since last July and I am pleased that at long last someone is listening. If this project goes ahead Bury's roads will be less congested on radial routes and there will be relief for commuters between Rochdale and Bolton. I will continue to press the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities and the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority until this dream becomes a reality."