Protesters’ delight as trains stay on track

SERVICES will continue to run on a ‘vital’ rail line linking parts of Stockport and Tameside with Manchester following a last minute U-turn by Northern.

Despite mounting pressure the operator had insisted it had no choice but to axe services between Rose Hill Marple and Piccadilly until midDecember, citing a training backlog and the impact of Covid-19 on its workforce.

Thousands of people have signed petitions against the temporary closure of the line, while last week Lib Dem councillors in Marple floated the idea of paying another franchise to run trains for one week, in the hope other sponsors would then emerge.

But ongoing pressure from local politicians, railway station ‘friends’ groups and members of the public has now paid off with the announcement that a partial service will run at peak times.

The service also stops at Romiley and Woodley, in Stockport, as well as Guide Bridge and Hyde Central in Tameside.

Rail Minister Chris Heaton-Harris MP confirmed Northern Trains would keep two return services running from Rose Hill.

It is understood there will also be an additional 90-minute service via the Hyde Loop promised from October 26.

It comes after discussions between Mr Heaton-Harris, local Labour and Tory MPs and Northern – which was brought under government control in March – were held at the end of last week.

William Wragg, Conservative MP for Hazel Grove, said: “I am pleased that Northern has listened to the public outcry and have agreed to keep services on the line.

“I am grateful to the rail minister for ensuring that Northern responded to demands from myself, Andrew Gwynne and Jonathan Reynolds (the Labour MPs for Denton and Reddish and Stalybridge and Hyde respectively). We have worked together, putting our constituents first.”

Coun David Meller, Stockport council’s transport lead, said it was a ‘brilliant result’ and said he wanted to make sure that a full level of service would be ‘resumed as soon as possible, well in advance of December’.

The Liberal Democrats, who dominate in Marple, ran a separate campaign, gathering more than 5,000 signatures to an online petition.

Deputy leader Coun Lisa Smart said: “I am delighted to see that our pressure has made the government see sense and exercise the power it had all along to require Northern to continue to deliver a much-needed service on this vital line.”

Craig Wright, founder of Friends of Rose Hill Station, said he was proud of the local community for the keeping up the pressure that ‘finally pushed the minister to change his mind and use the power he has to stop Northern from closing the line for three months’.

Services to and from Rose Hill from Monday September 14 will be as follows:

An 08.05 from Manchester Piccadilly to Rose Hill calling at Gorton, Guide Bridge, Hyde North, Hyde Central, Woodley and Romiley. That train will then depart Rose Hill at 08.52, taking the route of the 08.54 Marple to Piccadilly service without serving Marple station.

The 14.19 from Piccadilly to New Mills Central would be diverted to Rose Hill, no longer calling at Marple, Strines and New Mills.

This would then form a 15.14 Rose Hill to Piccadilly service (the 15.34 New Mills Central to Piccadilly would be cancelled). From October 26, a new 90-minute service is set to be introduced from Rose Hill to Piccadilly (via the Hyde loop).