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Friday 26 Jan 2007

GATLEY STATION RE-OPENS

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Gatley station will reopen this weekend having been closed since early December and completely rebuilt as part of a £12 million investment by Network Rail in four stations on the on the Styal line. The station now boasts state of the art steel platforms with non-slip surfaces, tactile strips to help blind and visually impaired people be aware of the platform edge, modern waiting shelters and new lighting. Redundant buildings have also been removed. The station still has temporary staircases and work is continuing on access ramps for people in wheelchairs and those with buggies. All work is expected to be finished by the end of March. lan Rigby, Network Rail's project manager for major projects and investments explained: "The station platforms were constructed in the 1950s from concrete panels supported on concrete stilts and they are long past their useful life. The concrete was cracked and broken away in places, and could no longer be effectively repaired. "We have replaced them with modern modular steel units that can be extended relatively easily at some future date if it is decided that longer trains are to call at the stations. This is in line with the route utilisation strategy proposed by Network Rail and currently being debated by stakeholders such as GMPTE, local authorities, MPs and rail user groups." The four stations being rebuilt are East Didsbury, Mauldeth Road, Gatley and Burnage. Burnage station closes this weekend and will reopen at the end of March, when the project is due to be finished. Replacement road transport is being provided and passengers are advise to check thier travel plans by call National Rail Enquiries on 08457 48 49 50.