Long-suffering passengers in the north to benefit from £15m station improvement work

Stations across Greater Manchester and Merseyside will see improvements this year as part of a £15m investment by Network Rail.

Between now and late spring 2019, £1.38m of upgrades will be delivered at Wilmslow, Wigan Wallgate, St Helens Central, Glossop, Cheadle Hulme and Heaton Chapel stations. The upgrades will include improved seating and waiting areas, new customer information screens and refurbished toilet facilities. The stations being upgraded are on lines that have suffered poor reliability and are serviced by trains in dire need of replacement. 

Anna-Jane Hunter, director for the North of England at Network Rail, said: “We are making improvements to station facilities, together with our railway industry partners, at well-used stations such Wilmslow, Wigan Wallgate, St Helens Central, Glossop, Cheadle Hulme and Heaton Chapel to help improve passengers’ experience.

“We know that passengers in the north have been affected by poor performance in recent months. While I’m pleased to say that performance is getting better, we know there is still work to do. This investment will provide vital upgrades to key stations in Greater Manchester and Merseyside that passengers’ want and rightly deserve.”

Chris Jackson, regional director for Northern, said: “The improvements at the seven stations are a perfect example of the benefits customers see when the rail industry works together. Northern is already in the process of improving the entire journey experience for its customers, with new trains, refurbished trains and better stations all set to be introduced this year.”

Caroline Whittam, Transport for Greater Manchester’s deputy head of rail, said: “Stations are not just the beginning and end points of train journeys but can be enjoyable spaces and hubs of local communities.

“TfGM welcome these improvements to these Greater Manchester stations and the wider region and are particularly pleased that they will make them more accessible and comfortable for passengers. It is so important that we encourage more people to use their local stations and do everything we can to deliver the economic and social benefits of our long-term rail strategy.”

The £15m customer benefit package announced last year by the rail minister, Andrew Jones MP, is being delivered by Network Rail, Northern and TransPennine Express at stations across the north.