MP in discussions about future of railway station
DAVID Rutley, Macclesfield MP, visited Macclesfield Station and met with senior members of Avanti West Coast’s team to discuss plans for the station’s future, following the positive news that ticket offices in railway stations will remain open.
Mr Rutley met with Claire Kingswood, Interim Stations Director, and Mark Osborne, Regional Growth Manager, to review priorities for the station over the coming months.
The visit also provided the opportunity for Mr Rutley to discuss the Government’s decision to review plans on the ticket offices, confirming they will remain open and continue the important service our ticket office staff provide for passengers and our community.
Ms Kingswood set out Avanti West Coast’s aspiration to improve facilities at the station to provide an improved customer experience.
She updated the MP on the collaborative work Avanti West Coast have started within the rail industry to deliver long term improvements at Macclesfield for customers to meet the future needs of the town. The most recent investment has seen improvements including new seating at the station.
Mr Osborne confirmed that Avanti West Coast’s future investment will link in with future regeneration initiatives in Macclesfield, helping to better connect people to the town centre.
Working to enhance the approach to Macclesfield station is a key priority to make it a fitting gateway that both residents and visitors can be proud of.
Part of this approach includes the Macclesfield Art Trail, which has been delivered by Cheshire East Council and Macclesfield Town Council, which celebrates the history of Macclesfield through pieces of art, supported through the Avanti West Coast’s community fund.
Mr Rutley also heard about the progress being made on the refurbishment of Avanti West Coast trains serving Macclesfield, using sustainable materials wherever possible, including tables made from recycled plastic bottles and onboard recycling.
Speaking after the meeting, Mr Rutley said: “As a regular user of Macclesfield Station and having actively campaigned to keep local ticket offices open, I warmly welcomed the recent announcement that the ticket offices will remain open and continue to provide much appreciated assistance to customers.
“Going forward, it will be vital to link improvements at Macclesfield railway station to initiatives that also regenerate the town centre. I will continue to work closely with Avanti West Coast on next steps to help drive forward future plans.”