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Tuesday, 17 November 2009Three stations in line for improved passenger facilities
Transport bosses in Greater Manchester have welcomed today's announcement that three rail stations in the county are in line for multi-million pound makeovers.
Leading members of Greater Manchester Integrated Transport Authority (GMITA) are keen to help to develop proposals that will see Manchester Victoria, Stockport and Wigan North Western all benefit from substantial Government investment in passenger facilities.
Lord Adonis, Secretary of State for Transport, has revealed that the stations are among 10 stations across the country to benefit from a £50m fund which will be supplemented by commercial and third party contributions and commitments by train operating companies.
The improvements will focus on information, car and bike parking, facilities and environment.
Councillor Keith Whitmore, Chair of GMITA, said: "Manchester Victoria has the potential to be a jewel in our crown. It is a fabulous building and a gateway in to Manchester, but it has been sorely lacking the right level of investment for many years.
"We have repeatedly called on the Government to make this move so I am delighted that those efforts are now beginning to bear fruit.
"Stockport and Wigan North Western also both have an important strategic role to play in giving access to the national rail network and providing connections to services across the region - so it is pleasing to hear that they are also set to benefit from investment.
"In the case of Stockport, we hope that this funding will build upon the earlier investment in this station which saw the Authority contribute towards the creation of the new booking hall and additional platform in 2003."
The announcement follows an independent review of station facilities by the "Station Champions" - Chris Green and Professor Sir Peter Hall.
They were asked to advise on the minimum levels of service that should be set at stations - ensuring they are appropriate to the stations' passenger flows - so passengers can be confident that stations will meet set standards.
Their report focuses on achieving:
- an enhanced and consistent level of facilities at each type of station, so passengers can find what they need and know what to expect; - a greater emphasis on end-to-end journeys, with more attention given to help passengers get to and from the station by bus, bike or car; - more effective integration of public transport into the planning of local communities.
Councillor Ian Macdonald, Vice Chair of GMITA, said: "Demand on rail services has grown by 50 per cent across Greater Manchester in the past ten years but it is vital that our stations are able to support that demand now and long into the future.
"So I welcome the move to set a minimum standard of facilities for passengers. I'm sure it will help to drive up standards across the board, and will be welcomed by the millions of passengers who pass through our stations each year.
"We now look forward to working with the Department for Transport and Network Rail on the detailed proposals for the three stations listed today and will seek to ensure that the investment is delivered as soon as possible."
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