Regulator's decision on station closure deferred

2 JUNE 1998
ORR/18/98

Rail Regulator John Swift QC has obtained from the Secretary of State a six month extension for a decision over a provincial station threatened with closure after it suffered two arson attacks.

Mr Swift's decision on the future of Pendleton station in Salford, Greater Manchester, due this month, has now been deferred until 15 December 1998 after a request from Salford City Council for time for them to put together a rescue package.

They believe Pendleton station may have an important role to play in the local public transport infrastructure and a renegotiating with Railtrack, North Western Trains and Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive to find a way to keep the station open.

The Regulator says it is right to postpone his decision on closure until these negotiations are complete and has asked Salford City Council for regular updates on their progress.

No trains have been able to call at Pendleton station since it was severely damaged in an arson attack on July 18 1994 and further damaged in a second attack in December of that year.

Background

On 9 December the Franchising Director gave notice of aproposal to discontinue all passenger services from, and terminate the use of, Pendleton station. The Regulator's decision on the proposal must be made within 26 weeks of that date, although this period may be extended by the Secretary of State at the Regulator's request.

Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive decided in 1993 to withdraw their support for services to the station on the basis that local passengers found found the wider range of services provided at nearby Salford Crescent station, which had recently been opened, more attractive. Following withdrawal of the PTE funding, the British Railways Board reduced the service from hourly to just four trains per day.

In their report to the Regulator on the effects of the proposed closure, the Rail Users' Consultative Committee for North Western England highlighted representations made to them by Salford City Council and others about the station's potential role within the local public transport infrastructure and recommended that the Regulator refuse to allow the proposed closure to be implemented.

Copyright © 2002 Office of the Rail Regulator