Tameside

How the public transport investment would affect Tameside

The Metrolink network would be extended from Droylsden to the very heart of Ashton-under-Lyne – connecting residents in Ashton to all stops across the Metrolink network.

As well as the new Metrolink tram stop in Ashton, bus and rail services would also be improved and Park and Ride facilities would be expanded.

A strategic review of the transport issues of the A57 Corridor would be undertaken. This would establish possible transport measures for consideration for funding under the Local Transport Plan (LTP) to help reduce congestion.

Links: Metrolink | Rail | Bus | Park and Ride | Cycling | Improvements for Passengers

Metrolink

Other Metrolink improvements under the TIF proposals would include:

• network extensions to East Didsbury, Manchester Airport and Oldham and Rochdale town centres. Funding has also been earmarked for an extension to The Trafford Centre via the Trafford Park line
• there would be a major expansion of Metrolink across Greater Manchester with the capacity to carry an extra 30,000 passengers in each of the morning and evening peak periods

Rail improvements

Under TIF proposals, to help reduce over-crowding there would be extra seats on peak-time rail services. There would be additional rail carriages for services across Greater Manchester with capacity for an additional 2,950 passengers in the three hour morning peak period. This is as well as the additional capacity for 4,100 passengers in the three hour morning peak, which would be funded by the Government without TIF.

Hattersley station would undergo a major rebuild, while Flowery Field, Newton (for Hyde) and Broadbottom stations would have enhancements like CCTV, help points, improved signage, seating and shelters.

Bus improvements

Examples of proposed bus services and facilities in Tameside include:

• a daytime Oldham to Stalybridge service, via Mossley, would run every half an hour, with one bus
  an hour continuing to Ashton-under-Lyne
• the 389 service from Ridge Hill to both Stalybridge and Ashton-under-Lyne would run every 10 minutes in the daytime
• the 205 service from Dane Bank in Denton to the city centre would run every 20 minutes during the day
• the 204 from Hyde and Denton via Haughton Green would continue to run every 15 minutes but all buses would go to the city centre
• there would be a new through service from Gee Cross to the city centre via Hyde, running every 15 minutes throughout the day
• a regular X20 service would run between Stalybridge, Dukinfield, Audenshaw and Manchester city centre, making limited stops along Ashton Old Road. This would run every 20 minutes during the day, and every hour in the evening and on Sundays. This would replace existing services to provide more buses and a faster journey
• the new Metrolink line from Ashton-under-Lyne to Droylsden and the city centre will allow the 216 service via Ashton New Road to be revised, with alternate journeys re-routed via Ashton Old Road in Audenshaw as a new service 218. This provides new links for Snipe Retail Park from Higher Openshaw and Fairfield
• a 201 service from Hattersley to Manchester city centre. Some journeys will operate as limited stop services
• local services in Ashton-under-Lyne to Smallshaw, Hartshead and Hazelhurst would be increased in frequency to provide ‘feeder’ services to the new Metrolink line
• services 335 and 345 would be revised and doubled, with each operating every 30 minutes to improve access to and from Denton’s residential areas. These services would continue to operate to Denton Crown Point and Ashton-under-Lyne, with service 335 providing new links from Cemetery Road and Shoecroft Avenue to Stockport
• a more frequent service to Tameside General Hospital (231) would run from Ashton New Road, Droylsden, Littlemoss and Hartshead, operating every 20 minutes during the daytime. Links to Darnton Road (for the Hospital) from Mottram Road and Stalybridge (236,237) would also be improved with daytime services increased to every 15 minutes. Similar links from Ridge Hill (389) would be increased to every 10 minutes. Service 389 would also provide links from Hyde and Yew Tree every 20 minutes during the daytime
• additional circular (orbital) bus services to connect areas outside the city centre

180 Yellow School Buses would be introduced across Greater Manchester providing customised services to schools, with seats allocated to pupils and drivers dedicated to the service.

These are some examples of proposed bus service improvements, with Greater Manchester seeing an overall increase of 10% to bus services with more services starting earlier, running later in the evening and at weekends.

Park and Ride

The TIF proposals would double the existing number of Park and Ride spaces serving Greater Manchester. Money has already been dedicated to this and positive feedback in the recent consultation has resulted in additional funds being set aside in re-allocated Local Transport Plan budgets for further sites across the region – funds that might have been invested elsewhere without TIF.

In Tameside, there might be increased Park and Ride facilities at Stalybridge, Ashton Moss and Ashton West.

Cycling

Improvements for cyclists with 125 miles of cycle routes and cycle parking across Greater Manchester and cycle hire schemes in Manchester and Stockport. Cycle routes planned for Tameside include:

• A635 Ashton Old Road, between Ashton and the city centre
• A662 Ashton New Road, between Ashton and the city centre via Droylsden
• A57 Hyde Road corridor between Denton and the city centre

Improvements for passengers

Further passenger improvements would include:

• a 20% reduction on public transport fares at peak times for low paid workers (statutory minimum wage)
• better and more timely travel information via real-time electronic displays and improved safety and security with CCTV, help points and better lighting at stops and stations
• an integrated ticketing and simplified fare structure using a new ‘Smartcard ticket’ would allow prepayment of fares for travel on trains, trams and buses

80% of the public transport improvements would be in place across Greater Manchester with a significant improvement in public transport in Tameside, before the peak-time congestion charge would begin in summer 2013.