KATHERINE BAINRBIDGE
PASSENGERS are moving forward in their campaign to prevent Northern Rail from putting into place changes that they say will see services drastically reduced.
As part of plans for the Manchester Piccadilly to Buxton line, morning rush hour services will decrease from 10 to six at Davenport and Woodsmoor stations.
The stations, which serve Stepping Hill Hospital, Stockport Grammar School and Aquinas College, will also have one fewer train in the evening rush hour.
Consultation on the changes is underway and a campaign has begun in opposition, with protestors arguing the two stations are used by more than 250,000 people annually.
Around 50 people turned up to a public meeting held at the Jolly Sailor pub and a Facebook group has now been created for the campaign called ‘Davenport and Woodsmoor local info.’
Northern Rail bosses said the changes will result in more services going through Hazel Grove, which is the busiest station on the route. But stations such as Davenport and Woodsmoor will be missed out in a bid to speed up services.
Stockport MP Ann Coffey is also supporting the campaign and has written to Northern Rail to express her ‘dismay’ at the proposals, which she has called ‘incomprehensible.’
She said: “As I understand it, you intend to shorten the journey time from Buxton to Manchester by simply missing out stations like Woodsmoor and Davenport.
“I find this completely unacceptable, when the stations involved are well used by commuters and others – and when the result would be to drive people back onto the heavily congested road system.”
Chris Hunt, 35, from Davenport said: “What is being done is pretty bad. It is a complete fail and against all the wider Northern Powerhouse work to increase Manchester’s economy. Services should be increased, not cut.
“We’re trying to get people to get in touch with their local councillors and MPs to raise the profile of the issue. Ann Coffey has been very supportive.”
A spokesman for Northern Rail said: “The consultation is in the very early stages – nothing has been set in stone. We welcome all feedback as the work to develop timetables which provide the best possible services.”
A petition against the proposed changes has been set up at you.38degrees.org. uk/petitions/better-trainservices-for-davenportand-woodsmoor. To find out more visit the Facebook group at facebook.com/ groups/1912880508991747.