Media centre

Wednesday 1 Dec 2004

NETWORK RAIL MEETS LOCAL MPs

Region & Route:

Network Rail gave assurances to local MPs at a meeting in London last night about the retention of heavy rail services on the Oldham Loop. Stressing that Network Rail had no plans to downgrade or close the route, London North Western Route Director, Robbie Burns, undertook to respond quickly to MPs’ concerns regarding service levels between Manchester, Oldham and Rochdale. The company also undertook to work with train operators and the GMPTE to look at the timetable and service pattern on this route and see how it could be improved in the future. Robbie Burns said: “This was a positive opportunity to ensure that local MPs were fully aware of the background to service changes on the route. There was clearly strong support for the continuation of heavy rail services on the route until construction work on Metrolink phase 3 begins.”