Trevor
Member
The extract below is from the Transport for Leigh's website, which shows all interested parties are now at least trying to get the largest town in the north of England without a station back on the rail map.
"Crunch talks organised by and Chaired by Leigh MP Andy Burnham ended with a unanimous will to find a way to get Leigh reconnected to the railway network using some form of connection to the soon to be electrified Manchester - Liverpool line.
In a full chamber at Leigh town hall, senior representatives from Network Rail, TfGM, Transport for Leigh, Wigan Council (including Lord Peter Smith), Greater Manchester Chamber and local mover and shaker Trevor Barton OBE.
Transport For Leigh opened the proceedings with a 5-point benefits presentation using all the data and detail gathered from it's presently 18-months campaign. TFL ended by posing to the group that there would be challenges and hurdles but that they were there to work with others to overcome see challenges and bring the most vital facility to the town for the next 10 years and beyond.....TfGM representative and COO, Bob Morris backed this up by outlining the intent to work hard to get the terms of reference right to give a feasibility study the best possible chance of success. He expects this work to be completed by November this year, thus allowing for a full and proper study to commence after this point.
Jo Kaye, MD of the West Cost Mainline for Network Rail, confirmed that while Network Rail have their views on any schemes, they are actively interested in assisting with any potentially successful scheme and offered their full assistance in the process, the nuts and bolts of which would be worked out between TfGM technical staff and Graham Botham, the Programme Sponsor for the Northern Hub Project for Network Rail."
"Crunch talks organised by and Chaired by Leigh MP Andy Burnham ended with a unanimous will to find a way to get Leigh reconnected to the railway network using some form of connection to the soon to be electrified Manchester - Liverpool line.
In a full chamber at Leigh town hall, senior representatives from Network Rail, TfGM, Transport for Leigh, Wigan Council (including Lord Peter Smith), Greater Manchester Chamber and local mover and shaker Trevor Barton OBE.
Transport For Leigh opened the proceedings with a 5-point benefits presentation using all the data and detail gathered from it's presently 18-months campaign. TFL ended by posing to the group that there would be challenges and hurdles but that they were there to work with others to overcome see challenges and bring the most vital facility to the town for the next 10 years and beyond.....TfGM representative and COO, Bob Morris backed this up by outlining the intent to work hard to get the terms of reference right to give a feasibility study the best possible chance of success. He expects this work to be completed by November this year, thus allowing for a full and proper study to commence after this point.
Jo Kaye, MD of the West Cost Mainline for Network Rail, confirmed that while Network Rail have their views on any schemes, they are actively interested in assisting with any potentially successful scheme and offered their full assistance in the process, the nuts and bolts of which would be worked out between TfGM technical staff and Graham Botham, the Programme Sponsor for the Northern Hub Project for Network Rail."