Rossendale pitches for commuter rail connection

Rossendale, the last Lancashire borough without a link to the national rail network, is to lobby Transport for the North for a connection to Manchester after completing a feasibility report.

Rossendale Council worked in partnership with Lancashire County Council to commission a study by The Centre for Economics and Business Research.

Five options were examined and evaluated in the feasibility study, but Coun Barnes stressed any commuter route had to work in conjunction with the existing heritage East Lancashire Railway.

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The report describes a ‘promising option’ as a peak period shuttle service between Rawtenstall and Bury using the East Lancashire Railway and a new heavy rail link from a disused platform at Bury Bolton Street Station to Castleton.

Passengers would have full access to Manchester, Rochdale and West Yorkshire.

The report concludes: “Overall, we believe this work indicates that feasible options exist for investment which could deliver significant economic benefits, reduce congestion, and meet environmental targets in a way which will not harm the valuable operations of the East Lancashire Railway, and may even be to their benefit.”

Not only is Rossendale is the only borough in Lancashire without a national rail link, but the congestion on the A56 and M66 at peak times has been reported as second worst, with only London reporting worse traffic problems.

Politicians, business leaders and officers, including leader of Rossendale Council Alyson Barnes, met with Northern Powerhouse Minister Jake Berry in London to update him on the outcome of early strategic case for rail investment.

They also lobbied Transport for the North (TfN) to get the link included in its forthcoming Investment Programme.

Coun Barnes said: “The East Lancashire Railway is an incredible success story bringing visitors and tourism into the Rossendale economy and we do not want to lose it.

“However the current commuter network between Rossendale and Manchester is not. At peak periods both car drivers and bus passengers find themselves in nose to tail traffic on the A56, M66 and in the city centre and there is no potential to ease that situation.

“We therefore want to see the rail link treated as a high priority scheme in the forthcoming TfN Investment Programme 2020-50.

“This would be a precursor to funding a Strategic Online Business Case and the remaining development and planning stages needed to take the project forwards.”

Rossendale and Darwen MP Jake Berry described reconnecting Rossendale and Manchester as ‘crucial’. He said: “I regard this link as crucial not just for Rossendale but to the whole development of the Northern Powerhouse.”

He said progress on the link had previously failed because it had not been a top priority for Lancashire County Council - but now it was.

Transport for the North is also officially considering the plans and Mr Berry said: “This is the value of having the study done. The next big challenge is about getting Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham to prioritise it and realise the significant growth it could bring to Manchester.

“Look at the economic growth in Rossendale since 2011, unemployment has been halved and more businesses than ever are setting up.  My concern is that unless we solve many of the transport problems facing the Valley, it is going to stop further economic growth."

The report, Restoring the Valley-to-City Link Rawtenstall-Bury-Rochdale-Manchester Rail Corridor: Early Strategic Case for Investment, can be downloaded here.