By George Lythgoe

Andy Burnham has set out his bold vision for Greater Manchester's rail services. 

New stations in Golborne and Cheadle; a tram-train service between Manchester and Bury; getting freight trains out of the city centre; and a 'child of HS2' are all part of his masterplan.

Appearing on the latest 'In The Hotseat' radio phone-in on Radio Manchester, Mr Burnham was inundated with questions about trains and the transport network across the city-region.

He said freight trains are clogging up the railway line between Stockport and Stalybridge, which is why it only sees one passenger service a week. Chris from Stockport described it as a 'pitiful service'. The mayor agreed.

"This country has neglected transport infrastructure in northern England for decades under governments of all colours," Mr Burnham told BBC Radio Manchester on Thursday (January 16). "They have prioritised London and the south east."

(Image - Ryan Parker / Nub News)

He added: "We are really turning our attention to rail now. The priority for me this year is to get that freight out of the main rail network. It needs to be taken out. 

"You wouldn't be on a platform at London Bridge and see a container train coming past for two minutes. Why is that acceptable in the north of England when they would never expect it in London."

Mr Burnham spoke about the two new train stations planned for Golborne, in Wigan, and Cheadle, in Stockport. He highlighted that the services would be integrated into the Bee Network to create a more seamless transport system in the region. 

Tom, from Stockport asked whether there was a plan for tram-trains 'like they have in Germany'. Mr Burnham mayor confirmed it is being seriously looked at between Manchester and Bury.

He added: "We are looking at taking a tram-train service north through the Heywood and Middleton area up to Bury. So that is a very live conversation, and not a pie in the sky one either, there is a very real proposal being worked up for that."

He said the technology for tram-train is there, with similar services already operating in Sheffield. 

(Image - TfGM)

HS2's 'son or daughter'

Andy Burnham announced he was set to attend a rail event in Manchester next week where he will be joined as a speaker by the transport minister Heidi Alexander. Mr Burnham said he will use the platform to raise his campaign to boost the rail connectivity between the West Midlands and Greater Manchester. 

In response to a caller from Stockport, who claimed noise around HS2 (High Speed Rail 2) had all gone quiet, the GM mayor has called for a 'son or daughter' of the rail project. 

"I'm not saying bring HS2 back in full," Mr Burnham told listeners. "At the time I was prepared to make changes to the HS2 plan under the last government, I would've prioritised doing some of the east-west routes first.

"But I have been saying since, it's not about bringing HS2 back, it's about the son or daughter of HS2. Because if we've got a situation in a couple of years where HS2 trains come up from London into Birmingham into the existing West Coast mainline, if you think you've seen rail chaos now, well honestly it would be nothing like the Armageddon we would have in that scenario."

He is expected to call for better capacity between the West Midlands and Greater Manchester at the rail event next week. 

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