Andy Burnham says capacity issues at Stockport railway station 'need to be fixed' post HS2 cancellation
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has said that train capacity around Stockport railway station 'needs to be fixed'.
It comes as Mr Burnham joined northern leaders in Crewe to give a speech on Monday 4 March.
During the talk, the mayor addressed plans for HS2 alternatives for the North West, along with Cllr Sam Corcoran - leader of Cheshire East Council - and metro mayor of the Liverpool City Region, Steve Rotherham.
Plans have already been aired for potential HS2 alternatives; these include a new 'segregated' line from Birmingham to Manchester on the one hand, or upgrades to the existing West Coast Mainline (WCML) on the other.
It is unclear as yet whether a new line would include a stop in Stockport. Speaking to Nub News on this subject, Mr Burnham said: "We're doing that work at the moment - we'll have to see what comes back.
"I'm very committed to ensuring it brings the maximum uplift in connectivity."
He added: "The thing for Stockport at the moment is there is a real bottleneck with regards to train capacity, and that needs to be fixed.
"That is the main thing that needs to be focussed on - getting that extra capacity around the Stockport area so that all services coming into Stockport serve the town better.
"[...] We've got big visions for the town - and part of achieving those visions means fixing these issues with the rail network."
Speaking more generally on transport in the North West, he said: "The WCML is full. The M6 is full. They can't be left to take the strain in the rest of this century - we need extra capacity, and that was always the argument for HS2.
"I've accepted that it isn't going to be HS2 anymore. But that doesn't mean it can't be a son or daughter of HS2, which is a new line via Crewe. [...]
"I think it's perfectly possible to have a lower cost option that still has a very ambitious vision.
"I think we need to move quickly to bring forward a plan to pitch to the new government.
"If we leave the North West of England with the M6 and the WCML in its current form, then we would be damaging its prospects for growth. We can't accept that."
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