The Government has awarded a £50,000 grant to Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) to create a passenger rail link between Stockport and Ashton-under-Lyne.
The proposal has been made with Stockport and Tameside Councils to create a new rail service between Stockport and Ashton-under-Lyne with a link to Rose Hill Marple.
This forms part of the Department for Transport’s (DfT) initiative that invites MPs, local councils and community groups to propose local rail services that should be reinstated.
The £50,000 grant will be used to carry out technical work.
The proposal was put to the Government by Denton and Reddish MP Andrew Gwynne and Hazel Grove MP William Wragg.
Stockport MP Navendu Mishra and Ashton-under-Lyne MP Angela Rayner co-sponsored the proposal.
The work set to take place could also help in supporting proposals for new stations at Denton and Reddish South and Heaton Norris.
This is however dependant on TfGM’s initial feasibility study and a detailed business case development.
Simon Elliott, TfGM’s Head of Rail Programme spoke on how this funding will help improve Greater Manchester’s economy and help protect the environment.
Mr Elliott said: “Although we are still in the early stages of the process, this is an important opportunity to make progress.
“[The process will] contribute to a wider ambition to investigate how better orbital transport links could support Greater Manchester’s environment and economy.”
This project form part of the Government’s ‘Restoring Your Railways’ scheme.
Cllr David Meller, Cabinet Member for Economy and Regeneration spoke on the positive impact the successful bid could have on the local community.
Cllr Meller said: “It is great news that Government ministers have approved the ‘Restoring Your Railways’ bid for the line between Stockport and Ashton.
“Stockport has great connections by rail, but if these proposals were made a reality, they would strengthen our position as a great place to live, work and play.”
