The Government’s Station Champions report, published today, has named Stockport as one of the ten major railway stations most in need of improvement, and in response, the Government has made up to £50 million of funding available so that an early start can be made on this work. In particular, the report calls for a major extension to the ticket hall at Stockport, and the doubling in size of the current station car park, which is frequently full to capacity. The report also acknowledges the status of Stockport as a major interchange, only one step down in importance from the major city centre termini, and suggests that there is further scope for retail facilities to serve passengers.
The Secretary of State for Transport, Lord Adonis, visited Stockport Station this lunchtime (pictured above, centre and below) as part of a whistle-stop national tour of the ten major stations found to be most in need of this funding, to see for himself the work that needs to be done, and to underline his commitment to seeing these improvements through.
Lord Adonis blogged after the visit:
“Stockport is a partially modernised station, with a superb new entrance and ticket hall but most of the platforms and other facilities are in poor condition - a particular contrast to the modern trains which pass through. The station is very close to the M60 and could become a significant park-and-ride location, but the car park is inadequate both in the number of places and the quality of facilities. We need to promote park-and-ride much more strongly, to encourage people to get out of their cars and onto trains - which they will do in much larger numbers if the car parking spaces are there.”
Labour Group Leader Councillor Peter Scott, who is also a member of the Greater Manchester Integrated Transport Authority, commented:
“This funding from the Labour Government is a major boost for Stockport, and will bring real benefits to passengers. The station serves not only our Borough, but the entire southern part of Greater Manchester and large parts of Cheshire and this funding will reinforce Stockport’s status as a major hub, with exceptionally good transport links. I’m grateful to Lord Adonis for finding the time to come and see the problems at Stockport for himself.
“The work that has previously been carried out at Stockport has already made a big difference, particularly around the main entrance, and after some delay, the new Platform 0 is now in use. However, the refurbishment must now spread to the other platforms, which are somewhat down at heel, and something must be done to ease the chronic overcrowding in the station car park, where visitors are frequently greeted by ‘Car Park Full’ signs.
“I hope that work on these improvements will get underway as soon as possible, and I call on Stockport Council to start working with the Government, Network Rail, and Virgin Trains, who operate the station, to ensure that we get the best possible outcome for station users.”
Further information on the Department for Transport funding announcement, Lord Adonis’s visit, and the Station Champions report are available from here: http://www.dft.gov.uk/press/railstations
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