Rawtenstall rail plan filed with DfT
A business case promoting a rail link to Manchester has been submitted to the Department for Transport by consultant Systra.
Rail specialist Systra was appointed by Rossendale Council and Lancashire County Council to produce a report on improving connectivity and explore a number of potential solutions.
The firm said it is confident the options suggested provide a strong economic case for the new rail link, intended to deliver benefits to residents across Rossendale, Ramsbottom, Bury and Heywood.
Rossendale is the only local authority area in Lancashire without a rail link at present.
The leader of Rossendale Council, Cllr Alyson Barnes said: “The rail link is vital to our continued sustainable growth which is why we as a council have driven this forward over a number of years – hopefully we are now seeing the fruits of this strategy.
“We are the only borough in Lancashire without a rail link and we cannot afford to miss out any longer.”
A local survey held in May and June showed 86% support for the project.
A key part of the brief was to ensure that the existing East Lancashire Railway heritage services can continue to operate alongside any regular passenger service, and that traditional features including stations and signalling systems would also be maintained.
The scheme will see a passenger rail service from Rawtenstall via Ramsbottom, Bury and Heywood into Manchester Victoria: potentially a 44-minute journey from Rawtenstall to Manchester in total.
County councillor Charlie Edwards, Lancashire County Council cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “We fully support the new rail link. Rossendale’s natural geography is one of its greatest features, but also places constraints on what is viable and affordable in terms of creating better transport links.
“There is a limit to the amount of traffic which the valley roads can cope with, and the creation of a regular rail service to Manchester has great potential to ensure our residents can access new opportunities for employment, education and leisure.
“There is clearly a worthwhile case for the rail link and, with the strong local support for this scheme from MPs, councils and residents, I look forward to it continuing to make good progress.”
Different options are still on the table: the preferred option would see a journey from Rawtenstall to a new Bury Market Street station with a pedestrian link to Bury Interchange for connections to Manchester. This option avoids impact at Buckley Wells where ELR have plans for to develop an engine shed and would deliver a journey time of around 56 minutes.
The route would continue from Bury via Heywood and the Calder Valley Line. This delivers a faster total journey time of just 44 minutes and would not require an interchange, however it would require a new station at Heywood to cope with forecasted demand.
Rossendale BC and Lancashire CC are hopeful of a decision in spring 2023.
Improving ail connections has been a theme throughout the region over the last year. Stockport has secured Towns Fund backing to introduce a station in Cheadle, while the Headbolt Lane station is under construction in Kirkby, with opening due in 2023.
Preston’s strategic housing zone Cottam is to be linked with a new parkway station, for which plans have been lodged this month.
This would make Rawtenstall the new Ramsbottom. It is a town with great potential, again like so many places to the North of Manchester neglected and poorly served.
By Elephant
such a rail link will destroy the railway heritage of East Lancashire and will seriously affect the economic vitality in towns such as Ramsbottom which relies on tourism provided by the East Lancs Heritage Railway without which there will be a noticeable reduction of tourists to the town who travel to enjoy the heritage railway experience and not commuting. There has never been a viable business case for this proposal and volunteers who run the heritage line will certainly not volunteer their time to support commuter trains. Lancashire County Council would best serve public transport by getting behind the Colne to Skipton Rail Campaign which is seriously undermined by the time wasted on a scheme that will never happen and does nothing to fully reopen the line to Bacup, whereas reopening the Colne to Skipton route reinstates the missing link at very little cost compared to what would be needed to upgrade the ELR.
By Keith Nash-Whitmore
This will do wonders for the area. Provided it doesn’t disrupt The ELR, the line should be repurposed for its intended use.
By 1981
Long overdue! People commuting into Manchester from this part of the world have no other realistic option than the car (or a series of unreliable public transport connections). How this can be the case for Manchester’s surrounding towns in 2022 is beyond me. If done right, this investment will be a huge boost to the region.
By Swiss Manc
This should be a priority. I live in Rossendale and never use public transport. The ELR is not the most important factor; the continued regeneration and improvement of public transport options outweighs the benefits of the ELR which is only really used at weekends.
By AT
“Such a rail link will destroy the railway heritage of East Lancashire”, is not an argument in this current day and age. We need to look at the present and the future not be stuck in the past which holds back development and regeneration. Globally we need to reduce our reliance on cars and look to improve all other forms of transport and connectivity. “Not in my back yard” has no place in 2022.
By Big Dub
I bought a home in Summerseat Village that backs onto the ELR line. I am happy that the heritage trains pass through, on occasion. However, a commuter line is very different and the thought of such directly behind our home and through our quiet village would ruin it for my family and most residents here, not to mention the impact on many others who currently live further along the rest of the line. They haven’t consulted local residents about this and whilst I completely understand and appreciate the requirement for better railway links to Manchester for those who live in Rossendale, it shouldn’t be at the expense of other villages/ towns vitality.
By LJ
A few observations. GMCA and TfGM have plans for trains between Bury and Rochdale, but also for the Atom Valley employment zone, so folks in Rossendale are getting access to a broader set of opportunities in GM without a car. Some very NIMBY comments on this thread.
By Rich X
Fantastic
By Cath Saunders
Yet more parkways building railways for cars not people.There’s no point in public transport if it’s servicing huge cars parks rather than town and villages.
By Kevan
Absolutely yes ! I commute by X43 or drive into Manchester for work a lot . The benefits for Rawtenstall would be huge .. as long as the fabulous ELR isn’t altered that much .
By Paul B