Today Government announced a further £72 million investment to make rail services more reliable in Greater Manchester and the North. This includes a third platform at Salford Crescent station along with track work and improvements at Salford Central and Victoria stations.
The third platform at Salford Crescent station is anticipated to increase capacity, reduce delays and improve reliability for passengers.
The extra platform will enable longer trains to stop to meet the growing demand, whilst also providing greater resilience, and reducing platform overcrowding at this key interchange hub in Salford, which currently accommodates an annual footfall of nearly one million passengers. It is also hoped that further services will timetabled stop at this important transport hub in the near future.
The investment will benefit local residents, commuters and students using the station and is seen as a step towards providing a ‘fit for the future’ facility as described in the Salford City Council and University of Salford £2.5 billion masterplan for the area, a key growth location referenced in the recently announced Greater Manchester Devolution Trailblazer Agreement.
This latest infrastructure investment has been welcomed by city leaders as a welcome move towards further improvements to rail infrastructure in the city-region.
Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett said “Investment in our rail and public transport infrastructure is absolutely key to our growth and achieving our integrated and sustainable travel ambitions for Salford, Greater Manchester and the wider region.
“We’re looking forward to getting into the details of what sits behind today’s announcements and engaging further with Network Rail and Government on the prospect of new train services calling at Salford Crescent. As today's news is a pre-cursor for further investment in rail infrastructure here in Salford and Greater Manchester, we will continue to collaborate with Government, Network Rail, train and freight operators and stakeholders on how wider transport issues will be addressed and the delivery of our 2040 Transport Strategy for Greater Manchester.
“I am pleased that Government recognises the need to invest in improving rail travel for the people, families, businesses and visitors of our rapidly growing city-region and the North more generally. But it is now vital for Salford and Greater Manchester that Government and industry come together with a common purpose to tackle the historic under-investment in public transport infrastructure, transforming our ageing infrastructure, making it accessible and fit for the 21st Century.
"Today's announcement also comes at a time when contractors are on site at Salford Central undertaking works to existing platforms to improve passenger experience and accessibility. However, what we want to see, is more trains and more reliable services – so today’s news is a positive step in the right direction but it also underlines that there is still so much more to do to deliver on our rail ambitions for Salford and Greater Manchester.”
Councillor Mike McCusker, Lead Member for Planning, Transport and Sustainable Development “The announcement today is a welcome step in making specific improvements realisable, offering the potential of more reliable and comfortable journeys for passengers from Salford Crescent station.
“The long term vision for the Crescent area is the delivery of a new Transport Hub and new Metrolink connection between Salford Quays and the Crescent area. We recognise this investment announcement from Government as a step in the right direction to improve rail infrastructure.”
Vice-Chancellor at the University of Salford, Professor Helen Marshall, commented: “The investment in train services in our region, and particularly the improvements planned for Salford Crescent, will make a huge difference to the day-to-day lives of our students and staff here at the University, as well as supporting our longer-term growth going forward. Alongside the work that is underway as part of the wider Crescent Masterplan to transform Salford, this investment will provide huge benefits to the city, the wider region and beyond; improving vital sustainable transport links for our growing community.”