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Friday, 01 May 2009Bridging the gap from heavy rail to Metrolink
Transport bosses in Greater Manchester today backed proposals for alternative travel options to cater for the conversion of the Oldham Loop Line to Metrolink later this year.
Greater Manchester Integrated Transport Authority (GMITA) welcomed in principle plans for express and regular bus services to support passengers during the closure of the heavy rail line from Saturday 3 October.
The aspirations have been developed following a detailed study of rail users' travel patterns, and aim to provide a range of bus services tailored to local travel needs.
Discussions are ongoing with bus operators and a major public information campaign will be launched in the summer, once these talks are complete.
Councillor Richard Knowles, Chair of GMITA's Development and Operations Committee, said: "We're very much aware of the need to ensure there are regular, reliable transport options for passengers while we eagerly await the completion of Metrolink to Oldham and Rochdale.
"A great deal of careful consideration and planning has gone into developing these bus plans, all informed by passenger surveys. I am confident the services we are seeking will offer realistic travel options for people along the loop line.
"Along with Northern Rail, we are also making the case to the Department for Transport to use trains currently running on the loop line to supplement services between Manchester and Rochdale.
"We are now going to work with bus operators to finalise our proposals so that we can launch a major information campaign in the coming months."
The two-and-a-half-year Metrolink construction project will see trams running to Central Park by spring 2011, Oldham Mumps by autumn 2011 and Rochdale by spring 2012.
The new lines to Oldham and Rochdale are part of a ?600 million expansion of the Metrolink network, which will also take trams to East Manchester and Droylsden, Chorlton and MediaCityUK in Salford.
Metrolink services will run from Shaw & Crompton to Oldham and Manchester every six minutes, and between Rochdale and Manchester every 12 minutes.
New Metrolink stops will be built at Monsall, Central Park, South Chadderton, Freehold, Newbold and outside Rochdale railway station on the Oldham and Rochdale line.
Two large Park & Ride sites will be created at Hollinwood and Derker and improvements will be made to the parking at Shaw and Crompton and at other stops on the line, taking the total number of spaces to more than 250.
To find out more about the project call the Metrolink public liaison team on 0161 244 1555 (open during office hours), email future.metrolink@gmpte.gov.uk or visit www.gmpte.com/futuremetrolink.
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