Rishton to Manchester rail campaign

21st January, 2021

Jim McMahon MP & Tan Dhesi MP join Rishton residents on zoom to discuss additional rail stop at Rishton

Complete the rail survey here: https://www.hyndburnlabour.org.uk/surveys/2021/02/05/rishton-rail-survey/

Shadow Transport team throws their support behind Rishton station stop to Manchester campaign.

Shadow Transport Secretary Jim McMahon MP and Shadow Rail Minister Tan Dhesi MP have thrown their support behind the campaign to add Rishton as a stop to the East Lancashire to Manchester service via the Todmorden Curve.

Organised by the former MP, Graham Jones, Labour councillors Kate Walsh and Noordad Aziz and local residents met with Shadow Transport Secretary Jim McMahon MP and Shadow Rail Minister Tan Dhesi MP to discuss with senior Parliamentarians the importance of improving rail services from Rishton station. Importantly having the Manchester Victoria service stop at Rishton. Rishton station serves 20,000 Hyndburn residents.

The residents and local businesses spoke passionately about how the link to Manchester would benefit Rishton and the surrounding towns (Great Harwood and Clayton Le Moors).

A number of tasks were agreed to step up the campaign and hopefully will lead to a positive result. This includes engagement with residents and collating statistics as well as engaging the local schools. Engaging with the rail authorities and pressing Hyndburn Council to support rail improvements.

The call highlights how much importance the local Labour team gives to the Rishton link to Manchester as it has been escalated and received support from Labour’s shadow transport team at Parliament.

Great Harwood Councillor Noordad Aziz said, “Good transport links are the key to social and economic mobility. Direct trains to Manchester would allow young residents to aspire in their studies and give them access to more skilled jobs within commuting distance. This is just one improvement the government can make and will benefit Rishton and Great Harwood residents.”

Rishton Councillor Kate Walsh said, ”It’s important that Rishton is on the rail map with greater frequency of services including a new service to Manchester as well as to Preston and to other stops along the line. The bus to Accrington can take over an hour to go to college for example. We must invest in local people and their communities and give Rishton and Great Harwood residents the services they deserve.”

Local campaigner, Jodi Clements from Rishton who is standing in the local elections said, ”We need Rishton to be a place that offers people good connections. The government must invest and provide a public transport system the south enjoys and at the same time reducing congestion pollution and our carbon footprint.”

Cllr Kate Walsh and Local campaigner, Jodi Clements

Former MP Graham Jones said, “We have to think bigger and aspire for a brighter, more positive future. Transport always brings prosperity. There have been 96,000 passenger journeys a year to Manchester Victoria since the service was introduced at Accrington station. That’s nearly 2,000 passengers a week. Hyndburn’s voice must be heard in Westminster and I am grateful to Jim and Tan for giving their time and support to Rishton councillors and residents. Two high profile parliamentarians who know how important places like Rishton are across the north if Britain is to succeed. I will be writing to the rail authorities and the government minister to press the case for better services at Rishton and across Hyndburn.”

Former MP, Graham Jones is backing the campaign