The government has today announced an £84 million funding package to make train services in the North West “more reliable”.
According to transport ministers, the money will be used to fund a package of infrastructure upgrades such as track improvements, platform extensions for longer trains, and larger local depots, which are all said to transform the day-to-day journeys of train passengers in the region.
Passenger facilities will be enhanced at Manchester Piccadilly, Manchester Victoria, and Manchester Airport stations, thanks to the funding, and will also allow for re-signalling along the city’s notoriously congested Castlefield Corridor, and the remodelling of Manchester Oxford Road station.
Work on the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) also continues with the electrification and re-signalling of the line and track renewals, which is aiming to deliver faster, more frequent, and reliable trains for passengers.
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Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said it “kicks off a decade’s worth of improvements”.
The £84 million funding package is aiming to make train services in the North West “more reliable” / Credit: Network Rail
He added: “This £84 million investment will make trains more reliable for the people of Manchester and beyond.
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“The Transpennine Route Upgrade, the Integrated Rail Plan and Northern Powerhouse Rail will transform the lives of passengers across the region for generations to come [and] as we level up the country, we’re determined to use rail to boost local economies, create greener journeys and change lives for the better.”
Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham has previously described the “lack of investment in rail over the past decade” in the North West region as “a drag on realising our ambition”.
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Speaking on the new £84 million investment, Mr Burnham added that a “reliable and dependable railway which provides a high-quality travelling experience” connecting major northern cities is “an important ingredient for the long-term success of our city-region and the wider area”.
Transport ministers said the funding “kicks off a decade’s worth of improvement / Credit: Flickr
He continued: “Today’s announcement is a welcome step forward and I look forward to continuing to work with Government and the industry.
“This is just the start of the infrastructure investment needed.
“We need to push on with a comprehensive package of improvements which will help to secure a successful future for rail travel in our region for generations to come.”
The funding boost also comes as a controversial new rail timetable is planned for Manchester from December.
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Mr Burnham has previously warned that it will lead to many passengers “standing up all the way” between Manchester and Leeds due to a lack of seats, but the Department for Transport (DfT) disagrees with that claim, and insists the new timetable will provide “more punctual, reliable journeys for passengers”.
Police appeal launched as woman dies after being hit by lorry in Bury
Daisy Jackson
A woman has tragically died after being hit by a lorry in Bury yesterday afternoon.
At around 3.45pm on Tuesday 6 October, emergency services were called to a road traffic collision in Radcliffe.
The collision was between a pedestrian and a lorry on Church Street West.
Tragically, the pedestrian – a woman in her 50s – passed away at the scene despite the efforts of emergency services.
A large cordon was in place yesterday and road has remained closed this morning.
Officers from GMP’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit are now appealing for information.
They said: “At around 3.45pm yesterday (Tuesday 6 October 2026) we were called to reports of a road traffic collision between a pedestrian and a lorry on Church Street West, Radcliffe.
“Emergency services attended but sadly the pedestrian, a woman in her 50s, passed away at the scene.
“No arrests have been made and enquiries are ongoing.
“Anyone with information including CCTV, Ring doorbell or dashcam footage is asked to contact police on 101 quoting log 2299 of 06.10.26. Reports can also be made via our website of the LiveChat function at www.gmp.police.uk.
“Alternatively you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”
New measures announced to tackle ‘rogue’ landlords across Greater Manchester
Emily Sergeant
A cohort of trained enforcement officers are set to hit the streets in all 10 boroughs to help improve the lives of the region’s renters.
Forming part of Greater Manchester‘s commitment to the highest-quality housing standards alongside the Good Landlord Charter, the newly trained enforcement officers will be tasked with protecting tenants, joining Council teams in checking rental properties, bringing enforcement action against bad landlords, and cracking down on illegal practices.
The introduction of the new enforcement officers comes after what has been ‘years of sustained pressure’ on local budgets.
Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) says it is working with the 10 councils across the region to strengthen local teams, rebuild in-house skills and expertise, and ensure that powers can be applied with consistency in all boroughs.
As mentioned, this all forms part of the Good Landlord Charter – which is GMCA’s ‘bold approach’ to drive up standards for renters across the region.
Landlords of more than half of rented properties in Greater Manchester have now signed up as supporters of the Charter, and as supporters, they have committed to going above and beyond legal minimums to improve the renting experience for hundreds of thousands of people.
“A safe place to call home is the cornerstone of a happy, healthy life,” explained Mayor Bev Craig. “But for years, people have felt trapped in poor-quality housing, and cash-strapped councils were unable to step in to help. I’m putting an end to that.
“We know there are plenty of good landlords in Greater Manchester, and many of them have already signed up to our Good Landlord Charter, but too many are just not good enough.
“That’s why we’re deploying a new generation of expert housing officers onto the streets of our towns and cities.”
Mayor Bev Craig declared that she ‘won’t stand by and let rogue landlords take advantage of people’.
She continued: “By empowering renters, working with responsible landlords, and using our powers to crack down on the bad ones, I will make sure everyone in Greater Manchester has the foundation for a good life.”
Emily Sergeant -
11th March 2022 
