Woolas backing for rail campaign group

Oldham East and Saddleworth MP Phil Woolas has given ministerial backing to an all-party campaign to win a better deal for the north’s railways.

MPs from Greater Manchester and Cheshire have pledged to fight together with colleagues from Yorkshire for better rail services in the North after the next election.

And Immigration Minister Mr Woolas is supporting them.

He said: “As we get better off, we travel more and the train is so much better than sitting in traffic jams.

“We have to work together to get the best regional funding allocation for our railways.”

The cross-party MPs promised their support at a meeting in the House of Commons called by Sheffield Hillsborough MP Angela Smith.

Ms Smith said: “In recent years, London has seen a massive and comprehensive overhaul and expansion of its rail networks.

“It’s now time for the centre of gravity of rail investment to move north as on too many of our services we have trains that are too poor quality and too overcrowded to cope.

“All parties must commit to relieving the major bottlenecks in and around Manchester. A clear funding commitment to see this happen would go a long way to reducing the imbalance in railway investment.”

The MPs hope that others will join them after the election.

Roger Jones, director of the Manchester-based North-West Rail campaign said: “I think it is fair to say that we have been very successful in lobbying Government and MPs of all parties for more investment in the railways, particularly with regard to the Manchester rail hub.

“However we recognise that more needs to be done after the general election.”

The campaign group will meet again in June.