New station gateway on track for Rochdale

Rochdale railway station is on track to benefit from a re-opened subway which is expected to be open for Christmas.

Work on the project, which will extend the station’s current subway to Miall Street, will begin in a matter of months, with workmen expected on site in autumn.

The scheme will provide quick and easy access to both the railway station and the Metrolink stop for travellers using the car park on Lincoln Street, which opened in February 2013.

It will also improve the traffic flow in front of the train station by giving people an alternative drop off point from where travellers can get directly onto the station platforms.

The work is part of a masterplan for the station gateway area, with wider physical improvements, including better lighting, proposed to take place following completion of the extended subway.

It will also complement Northern Hub proposals, an investment by Network Rail in lines across the North of England.

The Northern Hub scheme will see Rochdale benefit from a range of improvements including a boost to the number of fast trains travelling from Rochdale to Manchester from four to six an hour.

Councillor Colin Lambert, Leader of Rochdale Borough Council, said: “The station gateway is a hugely significant project for Rochdale and something which our residents really support. It will create a seamless link between the car park and the train and Metrolink station to enable public transport users to get around much more quickly and easily in a safe and secure environment. When combined with proposals for the Northern Hub, it will also deliver huge economic benefits for our town.”

Transport for Greater Manchester Committee Chair, Councillor Andrew Fender, said: “Re-opening the subway will not only help with passenger access to the car park, the train platforms and the Metrolink stop, but will also reduce the traffic flow in front of the station.”

The station gateway will be jointly funded by Transport for Greater Manchester, Network Rail and Rochdale Borough Council.