Mumps interchange a ‘winning option’

TRANSPORT chiefs have welcomed plans for a tram, bus and car interchange at Mumps when Metrolink comes to Oldham town centre.

Councillor Richard Knowles, chairman of GMPTE’s capital projects committee, said: “This option is the best solution for local businesses and passengers.

“The creation of the park and ride area, with room for up to 200 spaces, will make the new stop an integrated transport hub and will free up the land at the previously proposed site next to Mumps station, which will further support the regeneration of the town centre.

“This represents a real boost for Oldham and I now look forward to the development of the final designs.”

The section of Oldham Loop Line from Freehold to Mumps will be closed once the town centre route is complete in 2014.

GMPTE is keen to keep costs to a minimum and will recycle sections of track where possible.

Philip Purdy, GMPTE’s Metrolink director, said: “Rather than laying entirely new track through the section between Featherstone Road and Oldham Mumps, we will be reusing as much of the existing heavy rail track, sleepers and ballast as possible. When the town centre line opens, we will decommission the section from Werneth to Mumps and then reuse and recycle as much of the equipment, fixtures and infrastructure as possible on other sections of the network.”