Stockport Tram-Train Strategy Report

[Greybeard33]

Stockport MBC has published a Stockport Rail Strategy report by Atkins consultants, which includes detailed proposals for tram-train services within and into Stockport Metropolitan Borough.

Greater Manchester’s Airport City Enterprise Zone is adjacent to Stockport and will provide significant
employment opportunities for the skilled residents of the borough, along with new trade routes for Stockport
businesses and future investors in the borough. However, effective connectivity will be essential if this potential
is to be realised. The opportunity exists to develop a Southern Manchester Metrolink network linking East
Manchester and/ or Tameside, Trafford and Manchester Airport with Stockport as its hub. This network could
be enhanced by additional links to Marple and Hazel Grove, all utilising existing railway lines where capacity
exists, and diverting onto new or existing on-street running to maximise connectivity.

The Metrolink network recommendations within this strategy would support the growth ambitions for Stockport
town centre, which wants to enhance its employment, leisure and retail facilities and it would also provide a
link between Stockport’s rail and bus stations creating significant interchange opportunities for Southern
Manchester.

In order to enable Metrolink to facilitate the improved connectivity of Stockport, the following priorities are
proposed:
1) Manchester to Marple and Stockport Town Centre via Belle Vue.
2) Stockport West - with a primary focus on supporting a significant corridor of growth between
Stockport, Manchester Airport and Altrincham, which could also support the case for the completion
of the Stockport-East Didsbury link.
3) Hazel Grove to East Didsbury, continuing to Manchester City Centre.
4) Stockport to Marple.

http://democracy.stockport.gov.uk/documents/s57207/Appendix%201Stockport%20Rail%20Strategy.pdf

The proposals envisage tram-train services on the Ashburys to Rose Hill Marple via Belle Vue line, the Reddish South to Heaton Norris line, the Edgeley Junction to Altrincham line and the Cheadle Heath to Hazel Grove freight-only line. New chords to connect these lines are proposed in Reddish and Cheadle Heath, plus a chord to the Metrolink Airport line at Baguley for Stockport-Airport services. The single track sections of the existing lines would be redoubled.

A new tram-train alignment is proposed through Stockport town centre, between Edgeley No.2 Jn and Heaton Norris Jn, avoiding the WCML and linking the rail and bus stations.

Coun Roberts, deputy leader of Stockport council, said: “Stockport already has strong transport links and by improving what we currently have and further developing the rail network we can take a logical step forward in improving connectivity across the south of Manchester and beyond.”

Coun Andrew Fender, chairman of the TfGM Committee, said: “At this point, tram-train is one of the longer term projects for Greater Manchester and it is something we will continue to support as strongly as we can.

“Since we agreed an initial strategy at the end of 2013, a lot of detailed work has been undertaken to ensure that, as and when the opportunity arises in terms of both funding and powers, we can realise the benefits of tram-train as soon as possible.

“This very useful report from Stockport council will feed into our future plans and inform our ongoing engagement with Rail North.”

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/stockport-metrolink-tram-train-strategy-8492513

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I am sure that comments have been made in past years on SSC that have claimed that Stockport Council were only lukewarm in their enthusiasm for light rail type projects compared with other councils.

 

[trickyvegas]

There is a decent chance it may come under Labour control, come May, so that may change the stance.

 

[DiscoSteve]

I am sure that comments have been made in past years on SSC that have claimed that Stockport Council were only lukewarm in their enthusiasm for light rail type projects compared with other councils.

All change now it would seem - this may be possibly because the A555 road scheme has finally cleared its last approval hurdle - this road WAS a higher priority for Stockport previously

 

[snowball]

Wasn't it more that they were lukewarm about the East Didsbury to Stockport link? I thought they were always keen on a Stockport-Marple connection.

 

[WatcherZero]

As I remember it the Lib Dems in Stockport council wernt keen on it and killed it off early/mid 2000's when they were strong, as the council has slipped into NOC and Labour now has almost as many seats they've had to be more open to it again.

What may have played into it was Labour controlled GM transport upto 2008, when a lib-con minority coalition took over post Tif referendum loss they started warming up to trams again, Labour later retook control of GM transport something like 2012/13? after local election drubbing of Lib Dems/Conservatives. If the Lib Dems in Stockport had supported trams last decade they would likely have built to Stockport in phase 3B despite the cost.