Talks have started between transport bosses and businesses in Oldham as to the future of Metrolink to the town. Work has recently started to convert the current heavy rail line which services the town (and which will see stops at Werneth and Oldham Mumps) but with the recent news that a line will be built into Oldham Town Centre a decision needs to be made whether both are required.
Cllr Howard Sykes, leader of the Council, said: “The current facilities at the station are adequate but in no way of a high-enough standard or capacity to cope with the new transport infrastructure that Metrolink will deliver. Bringing trams into Oldham town centre will transform our development prospects and provide an unprecedented economic stimulus. That is why it is vital that we now have a meaningful public consultation about development options and their potential implications. This is a decision that we have to get exactly right in order to maximise the benefits of Metrolink to the town centre and the borough as a whole."
It could be that the “loop line” conversion may be scrapped once trams reach Oldham town centre as the Oldham Mumps transport interchange is the wrong side of a dual carriageway from the main part of the town centre. A formal public consultation is likely to take place in the next few weeks before plans are submitted.
Source: Manchester Evening News