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Tuesday 17 Jan 2017

Alterations to car parking at Bolton station next week as major investment work continues

Region & Route:

Network Rail is advising passengers who park at Bolton station that there will be alterations to car parking next week.

An unofficial car park off Orlando Street will be permanently closed to motorists next Tuesday (24 January). This measure will allow engineers to reinstate platform five at the station which was taken out of use over 20 years ago.

Terry Strickland, area director for Network Rail said: “To bring platform five back in to use, we need to rebuild the platform and reinstate the track on land that is currently used for car parking. The additional platform is vital to our Railway Upgrade Plan on this route and will help to create better journeys for passengers in Bolton.”

“We are investing heavily in Bolton as part of our Railway Upgrade Plan to provide passengers with the railway that will meet their needs for many decades to come and help boost the economy across the north of England.”

“This upgrade work will mean a better, more reliable railway for passengers. To deliver it, significant engineering is required to improve the track layout, rebuild platforms and make space for new equipment to power electric trains in Bolton.”

The reinstatement of the fifth platform at Bolton complements £48m worth of enhancements being made by Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) - in conjunction with Bolton Council - to the transport infrastructure in the town. An improved interchange adjacent to the station that will replace the current bus station on Moor Lane and once complete will provide public transport users with a seamless link between bus and rail services via a fully enclosed Skylink bridge.

The work at Bolton forms an integral part of a £1bn+ investment across the north of England and will allow faster, more frequent electric trains to run through the station. 

Northern also has plans to modernise Bolton railway station itself and has begun this programme with the introduction of automated gatelines which help to improve security and encourage all customers to hold a valid ticket before they board trains. In the coming weeks and months there will be further work at the station to improve lighting, refresh paintwork and make the general environment more welcoming.

Liam Sumpter, Regional Director for Northern, said: “We made a commitment to improve rail services for all customers, and the proposed improvements at Bolton – which are already taking shape following the introduction of the gatelines – are just one way in which we are delivering on that commitment.

“Of course, there is more work to be done and we are improving the carriages on our network, introducing new carriages and developing stations as part of a modernisation scheme that will, when complete, deliver a railway fit for the 21^st Century.

“But this work cannot be done in isolation and we are delighted to be working closely with Network Rail and TfGM to provide customers in Bolton with a full integrated public transport system.” 

Leader of Bolton Council, Cllr Cliff Morris, added: “Improvement to local transport infrastructure is crucial and the reinstation of Platform Five will bring benefits that will complement all the investment that we are making. The interchange will provide an up-to-date modern facility and, together with all of the other transport improvements taking place, our residents and commuters will really feel the benefit.”