Members of ‘ghost train’ group now in high spirits
EVERY Friday morning a single train stopped briefly at a tiny station in a Stockport suburb to take a handful of passengers on a short, one-way journey.
Any would-be travellers needed to be on time, because if they missed the train they were in for a very, very long wait for the next one.
That’s how things were for nearly 30 years.
Since 1991, just one service a week called at Reddish South – the 9.26am from Stockport to Stalybridge.
It became known as Greater Manchester’s very own ‘ghost station’.
The token service is known as a parliamentary train, so-called because it would require a costly act of parliament to actually close the littleused line.
As a ‘request stop’ anyone who wants to board at Reddish South has to stick their arm out to alert the conductor.
For 27 years, passengers on the one-way service have had to find an alternative way back to Reddish after arriving in Stalybridge.
But last weekend, things changed.
On Saturday, Reddish South’s parliamentary train became a return service for the first time in decades.
As a result of the major shake-up to train timetables, the service has moved to Saturday mornings and is running from Stalybridge to Stockport and back – stopping at Denton and Reddish South twice during the round trip.
While it might not sound like a huge change, for one determined group of local volunteers, it’s an exciting time.
For the past 11 years, the Friends of Reddish South Station group has doggedly campaigned to have a proper service reinstated to Stockport and Manchester Victoria.
While the change isn’t exactly the full timetable they are hoping for, it is a step in the right direction.
“Our one-way train has become a two-way train. It’s still only one, but it’s a 100 per cent improvement!” says Kim Burrows, Friends group secretary.
“For us, it is amazing really.”
Since the group was formed in 2007, members have been campaigning tirelessly to get the existing line, which runs to Victoria, fully reopened. There are now more than 70 members, led by a small core group which meets regularly with the region’s transport chiefs to plead the case.
Along the way, they’ve gained the backing of a host of Stockport councillors and Denton and Reddish MP Andrew Gwynne.
Most recently, their campaign has won the admiration of Greater Manchester’s mayor.
“We have met with Andy Burnham who was very supportive. He was very good,” Kim said. “He did say he is very supportive because he’s all for local transport and our neck of the woods has been a bit neglected really.”
Their work extends far beyond the formal meetings with transport bosses. They are doing all they can to inject life back into Reddish South.
One-off rail excursions now stop to pick up and drop off passengers for day trips around the country, after the group made contact with the rail tour firm behind them.
Members regularly use the service themselves, keen to be counted in the official passenger numbers in a bid to further support the case for a full timetable.
Their popular ‘folk train’, including a ‘ghost folk train’ for Halloween, sees them invite musicians into the carriage to perform for passengers.
Most weekends they can be found at rail shows and events, raising awareness. Aside from the odd dissenting voice proclaiming ‘it’ll never happen’ their campaign has been welcomed by the public, particularly in the local community.
For them, the logic behind a proper service, which would connect the area to Manchester and Stockport – and as such, the transport connections available at both, is obvious.
Not least as trains to Manchester from Heaton Chapel Station, which is just a mile-and-a-half away, are often standing room only.
“The population within 800 metres of Reddish South Station is the third highest of the 19 stations in the Stockport area,” group member Alan Burrows said.
“More than 8,000 people. The third highest, with one train a week.”
For now, more feasibility studies need to be carried out before the Friends’ aim can come to fruition.
Transport for the North and the Department for Transport share the franchise on the line until at least 2025.
Transport for Greater Manchester is investigating if reinstating a full timetable at Reddish South would be viable, and if so, will present the case to the franchisees.
In the meantime, members have also turned their attention to the station itself, in a bid to make it into an asset in its own right.
Regardless of how long it takes, the group has vowed never to give up campaigning for better transport links.
“There’s all these independent studies going on so let’s hope that someone sees sense and realises the advantage of having a service,” Kim added.
“We will do it. We’re not going anywhere.”
Caroline Whittam, TfGM’s rail operations manager said: “The Friends of Reddish South have been tireless and passionate advocates for their local station and we understand their frustration at only getting one train a week.
“We completely understand their desire to have more trains operating from their local station and have met with the group a number of times to discuss how we can work together on this issue.
“We are currently considering Reddish South as part of a strategic study that will identify locations where we can develop new stations or reinvigorate existing ones, such as this one.
“Following the outcome of this study this summer we will be able to plan and discuss the next steps for services, along with the group and other relevant stakeholders.”