The new Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport, Jesse Norman MP, made his first public appearance after eight days in his new role, at Place North West and Transport for the North’s inaugural conference.
Network Rail has released further details of the programme that will see the 17 miles of rail between Blackpool and Preston closed for up to 18 weeks later this year, and announced that Ashton-under-Lyne’s railway station is to be closed for three weeks in July.
British Waterways Marinas has revealed its five-year growth strategy, with investments across its portfolio of marinas amounting to £3m in the first year.
Cllr Richard Farnell, leader of Rochdale Council and Greater Manchester’s portfolio lead for housing and planning, has warned that lack of investment in Northern high-speed rail could lead to “our own version of Donald Trump”.
Plans to create a tramway pilot project in Preston have been approved, and will see a stretch of the former Longridge to Preston railway line reinstated in Deepdale.
Unexpected ground conditions have added £3m and five months to the programme for a new road from M55 J1 around the village of Broughton to the A6 in Lancashire, opening up development sites with potential for 1,400 new homes.
Network Rail will be carrying out electrification work in Chorley over the bank holiday weekend and is warning passengers between Preston and Manchester to check before they travel.
A summer programme of tram and rail works begins on Sunday 26 June that will cause upheaval for Metrolink passengers and rail users going between Preston and Bolton, as well as Manchester and Huddersfield.
Public consultation ahead of a planning application has opened into the proposed £17.5m Penwortham Bypass in Lancashire.
There has been an 180% increase in the sale of tickets originating in East Lancashire for passengers heading to Manchester in the past year since the Todmorden Curve reopened to enable direct trains into the city.
