Soaring growth in passengers

The number of passengers using Oldham’s remaining railway lines is set to soar over the next 10 and 20 years, according to a new report published by Network Rail.

Demand for rush-hour trains into Manchester is set to rise by up to 72 per cent by 2029 — the highest of all the major northern cities, ahead of second-placed Leeds with a 68 per cent rise.

And the route between those two cities — via Greenfield — is one of the most overcrowded on the network, says Network Rail’s latest report into rail usage over the next 10 to 20 years.

NR’s director of planning and development, Paul Plummer, said: “Rail in the north is a major success story — but this brings its own challenges, “With businesses and commuters in the north relying on rail and so many more people choosing to travel by train, continued investment in rail in the north is a necessity, not a luxury.”

Oldham’s main rail route — the loop — is currently being converted to Metrolink but it will retain lines through Greenfield and Mills Hill at Chadderton.

Network Rail is already supporting local campaigners in their demands to free up rail lines across the region with improvements to the “Northern Hub” which would allow 3.5m more passengers to travel across the north every year.

Earlier this year, the Chronicle reported the fury of experts over the Government’s “carry on crushing” message to North-West rail commuters. Extra train carriages were promised to relieve the “sardine specials” which carry workers daily in and out of Manchester but Transport Secretary Philip Hammond ordered a review after the National Audit Office said the growth in rail travel had been overestimated.

But Travelwatch North-West chairman Chris Dale said: “Whatever the situation in the South-East, which appears to receive the Department for Transport’s predominant attention, rail travel continues to grow in the North-West and overcrowding is a major problem.”