Today the government has announced that they are going to provide £72m to improve the train services in Manchester & the North.

The funding will help to deliver a third platform and much needed track improvements at Salford Crescent Station. Salford Crescent is a very busy stations and a main hub for passengers needing to change trains.  The funding will also help to reduce bottlenecks, delays and any station overcrowding.   This funding marks that latest in an ongoing program of rail investment to transform the rail services across the Manchester region over the next 10 years.

Manchester Victoria Station will also benefit from extra entry and exit points to platforms which is hoped to ease congestion for passengers who are travelling through the station at busy periods.

At Manchester Victoria Station, Rail Minister Huw Merriman revealed the latest of 4 infrastructure upgrades to improve day-to-day journeys for passengers across the region while supporting productivity and economic growth.

Today’s investment announcement is the latest step in transforming Northern Rail services over the next decade through the Manchester Task Force – which is a cross industry body, and includes representatives from Network Rail, Transport for the North, Transport for Greater Manchester and local train operators.

Network Rail’s Tim Shoveller said:

Today’s announcement is really positive, allowing us to get on with fixing the infrastructure around central Manchester so we can run trains more reliably.

The rail industry has come together to work on these proposals, building into a long-term vision that will get the best for our passengers and freight users alike.

We also have ambitious plans for the future of Manchester Oxford Road. We’re removing our previous planning application so we can move forward with a new approach, something we’ll be consulting residents and businesses on later in the year.

This isn’t the only way the government is investing in Manchester. The recent trailblazer devolution deal committed to supporting reforming local rail in the region, including pilots of pay-as-you-go ticketing and integrated London-style transport on the Bee network.

Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said:

There is a massive opportunity to change rail journeys for people and businesses in Greater Manchester and the North for the better, and this infrastructure investment is a welcome next step to help make that happen.

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