DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Wed 12th May 6:00pm Stockport Town Hall
Heatons and Reddish area Transport Committee meeting. FORSS have been invited to make presentations of our campaign.

Wed 19th May 7:00pm Stockport Labour Club Wellington Rd North
Friends of Reddish South Station. Annual General Meeting.

Sat 19th June 12:00 noon till 4:00pm
Reddish Vale Country Park Folk Day

Sat 7th August 12:00 noon till 4:00pm
Unity Park Reddish Road Community Day

Sat 17th July 12:00 noon till 4:00pm
South Reddish Park Community Day

Fri 27th August 09:26 departure
Summer Folk Train from Reddish South Station to Stalybridge Station Buffet Bar
Please note : This is a one way only train.

2nd April 2010 - Good Friday Folk Train

Well over 60 people joined the Folk Train to Stalybridge on Good Friday for breakfast and entertainment in the famous buffet bar. Unfortunately due to illness MP Andrew Gwynne was unable to join us, but the "Friends " group were supported by three local Reddish Councillors and plenty of passengers . There were some passengers already on the train from Stockport and as well as the large contingent who got on at Reddish South we were also joined by some passengers at Denton. "Splash Radio" of Wigan were represented on the train and they did some interviews which will be broadcast shortly on their web-site. They campaign for better transport facilities in Greater Manchester and we welcome their support.

Obviously there were no updates from our MP on progress towards our campaign for passenger services to Manchester Victoria, but maybe there will be some progress by the time we have our next "Folk Train" in August.
The next train has been provisionally booked for FRIDAY AUGUST 27th which is the Friday before August Bank Holiday Monday. We will also be attending some local community park "Open Days" with our stall.

18th December 2009- Christmas Folk Train

If anyone can remember 18th December was around the time of our first snowfall of the winter, and although it has been dwarfed since by recent events, we did wonder how many people would be able to brave the weather to join us.
We were fewer than in August, but, as the schools were finishing for Christmas that day and it was likely that last minute Christmas shopping would be bound to take precedence we were pleasantly surprised by the people who did make it!
Our first surprise of the morning was that we travelled in a four-carriage train! After all the complaints passengers (including me!) have had about overcrowded trains in recent times, we were all taken aback! We all sat in one carriage so that we could be entertained by Ged and Phil (2 blokes with a guitar) with the welcome addition of Rob on viola all the way to Stalybridge.
Danny from Splash Radio joined us once again, and for part of the journey Steve Magner (GMPTE) was on board to say Hello.
Once at Stalybridge we were again treated well by Sylvia and the team at Stalybridge Buffet and Ged, Phil and Rob played while we enjoyed the usual (and very welcome) hot breakfast and drinks. Mark Barker (Northern Rail) provided key rings, pens, Santa hats and colouring books which were appreciated by us all.
New station manager Adrian Gallagher (who has responsibility for several stations, including ours) came to meet us and, even though Stalybridge is not on his patch, he enjoys the breakfasts too, so, I think, was combining business with pleasure just for once to introduce himself to us. He was very supportive of our group and said that there was probably some help he could offer us with future projects such as the clear up and planting on Reddish South Station that we hope to start in the Spring.
Everyone who came really enjoyed themselves, so thanks to Ged, Phil, Rob, Sylvia and the team and Mark Barker for helping to make the day the success it was yet again! We did not leave Stalybridge Station without booking again for Good Friday (2nd April 2010) so we hope you can make it for a really good time!

Reddish Heritage Day - Saturday 12th September

Another very successful open day was enjoyed by hundreds of visitors to the Reddish Heritage Day at the park near St Elizabeths Church on Saturday 12th Sept. We had over 80 new signatures to our list of supporters for opening the line to passenger services to Manchester Victoria and we sold lots of fridge magnets too. We now have well over 500 signatures of support from the various "open days " this summer and have had support from Stockports Mayor and Lady Mayoress , along with both their Deputies in office and the continuing support of all the local Councillors and of course that of MP for Denton and Reddish , Andrew Gwynne.

 

Folk Train Special - Friday 28th August

The following 3 pictures were taken on the "Folk Train Special" on Friday Aug 28th, when well over 50 people joined the train on a very wet and windy weekday for breakfast in the famous buffet bar on Stalybridge station. We were entertained by our resident folk duo "Ged & Phil" both on the train and in the buffet bar and we would like to Thank them for some great music.

Our MP for Denton & Reddish Andrew Gwynne also made a brief speech in the buffet bar and he gave us some encouraging words about the campaign. He said that although Northern Rail could see no possibility of using the existing empty trains that are seen every day passing through Reddish South, because these trains are too infrequent and at the wrong times for economic services, there may be scope for the campaign via the "Manchester Hub" project. This is a long term plan for the whole of Greater Manchester for better rail links, services and expansions whereby major funding is being sought for the whole of the area. It is a long term plan which will rely on funding and subsidies but at least it may be a way forward with some prospects for our campaign. Mr Gwynne went on to say that he has got some hope for the future and will continue to lobby all the bodies concerned on our behalf, and his speech went down really well and he got a standing ovation at the end.

It was a great day out and our thanks go to everyone who supported us including some travellers from Nottingham and Wigan , to "Ged & Phil" the folk duo and to the staff at Stalybridge buffet bar who supplied some nice breakfasts / bacon butties / drinks etc and of course to Andrew Gwynne MP for his continued help and support.

Unity Park Family Fun Day - Sat Aug 22nd at the Park in South Reddish

A couple of pictures from the newly named Unity Park Family Fun day, where the friends had their stall on display.

The top photo shows Cllr Colin MacAllister Mayor of Stockport and Andrew Gwynne MP supporting our Reddish Unity Park open day stall where we gained even more support for our campaign for new passenger services from Reddish South to Manchester Victoria. It was a great day , lots of visitors and plenty of signatures of support for these services.

" Friends" members Alan , Kim , Sue , Keith , and Dot man the stall at the latest open day at Unity Park Reddish.

Bank Holiday Family Fun Day - 25th May at the Fir Tree Pub Reddish

A warm sunny morning brought a good crowd out to enjoy the family fun day at the Fir Tree Reddish. We had been invited by Carol Rigby to bring our "Friends" stand. We had a great deal of interest from young and old. The young who commute to Manchester on a daily basis would love to use the train to avoid "Reddish Road". Older people would use it for shopping and onward travel. Thanks to all who added their names to our campaign. Also a big thank-you to all the members of the "Friends" group who gave up their Bank Holiday to man the stall.

FORSS

 

Folk Train "3" Good Friday 2009

Stockport Express Article:

Arriving at the station at 9-15 it was good to see a crowd of people on the platform. Among those were 2 representatives from “Splash out Radio” a community radio station based in Wigan. Also a photographer from Stockport Express who took photos of Kim and I dressed in our Easter bonnets with Ged and Phil our local folk duo. It was great to see children with their Easter baskets and “bunny” ears,

eagerly awaiting the arrival of the train. By 9-26 the station was filled with 50 or more people who waited and waited. 10-00 came and went and we were still waiting for the train. We know its nickname is the Ghost Train, had it passed through the station without being seen!! After numerous phone calls and no explanation as to where the train was people were deciding to go home. We decided to call Metro Taxi and see if we could get to Stalybridge by Taxi. Then we got a call from Kim’s friends Alan and Sue Hornby that the train was leaving Stockport at 10-34. They had been on the internet and phoned rail enquires who were very helpful. Roy was nearly home when he got a call to say the same and he turned around and dashed back to the station.

The train arrived in the station about 10-40 to cheers and applause from the crowd on the platform. The conductor was full of apologies. Apparently the driver had been waiting with the train in the platform and the conductor had been given the wrong dockets. It wasn’t until the many phone calls that the mistake had to come to light and the train was rescheduled for 10-34.

We decided to thank the people who had waited patiently with Easter eggs and breakfast at the Stalybridge buffet. Ged and Phil entertained us on the train and were joined by Rob on the fiddle. Easter eggs were given to the driver and conductor who couldn’t apologize enough at the 1hr and 7mts late running of the train. It wasn’t their fault. We first let Northern Rail know about the Folk Train way back in January and since then numerous letters have been exchanged to confirm the train would run on Good Friday.

Sylvia and her staff at the buffet did a great job in accommodating us after our late arrival. In no time breakfast orders were taken and we were being entertained by Ged, Phil and Rob.

A BIG THANK YOU TO YOU ALL.Apologies to the folks who got up early to ride the train and decided to call it a day when it didn’t show. Please write to Northern Rail and voice your complaints. The friends group will be voicing their’s!

Our next meeting is at 7-30pm Wednesday April 22nd at the Labour Club Lloyd Street Heaton Norris Stockport.

ALL WELCOME.

Dot Ashworth

 

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FOLK TRAIN "2" SATURDAY 26TH JULY REDDISH SOUTH STATION - Report and Pictures

The second folk train special was a huge success, the train was full to standing room only. They could only just cope in the buffet bar with all the meals. Cllr Walter Brett gave a great speech encouraging everyone to get behind the campaign, which is now gaining momentum. Apologies were sent by MP Andrew Gwynne.

Thanks for all your support with the event - it shows that the people of Reddish do want a regular service and would support it.

Here a selection of pictures from the day:

	The crowds gather at the station.
	Waiting for the Saturday only train.
	The station as it is today.
	The conductor was a little surprised with the number of passengers!! The busy train! Standing room only!
	At the Buffet Bar.

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Folk Train Special - Report and Pictures

Saturday 26th January was a cold , windy, but dry day that saw about 50 people turn up for the “Friends” Folk Train Special. As well as our “regulars”, we were joined by MP Andrew Gwynne , members of the press, members of the Greater Manchester Transport Campaign, members of the Reddish Community Centre and lots of Reddish folk, some who had just turned up to support us, without riding the train.

The Folk Train Special arrived on time at Stalybridge and we were joined in the buffet by members of the public who had already been on the train from Stockport & by those who had joined at Denton, so almost 60 people crammed into the wonderfully atmospheric & old fashioned but cosy station buffet bar. It certainly had not seen such a sudden influx of customers for many a long day. !

We were entertained both on the train and in the very cosy bar by a folk group who we were told were so far, un-named, but who must surely now take the name “Reddish Ramblers” ! ! They were great and went down well, just like the real ale and generous portions of corned beef hash and pie and peas. After some music MP Andrew Gwynne made a short but interesting speech telling us of some meetings he had had with various bodies but he also stressed that WE the “friends” WE the commuters, and WE the community must continue the campaign with Northern Rail and GMPTE to put pressure on them for a new rail service on our line. He stressed that more letters should be sent to emphasise the need for such a rail service in the light of impending congestion charges which will affect us all. Indeed, Andrew Gwynne highlighted an important point that not just Reddish South Station but Denton Station needs a new rail service to Manchester as the proposed boundary for the Congestion Charge will start at the M60 Motorway right next to Denton Station which could then be used as a “Park and Ride “ scheme for residents of Denton, or even for those as far as Glossop. It was a speech that went down really well as it was clear that he was 100% behind the campaign. Well done Andrew Gwynne. ! ! More real ale and more music followed and a wonderful day out was enjoyed by all.

The Friends of Reddish South Station must thank everyone for their support and in particular to the members of the Greater Manchester Transport Campaign, a large and very influential group who continue to campaign for better public transport facilities for everyone in Greater Manchester. We thank the “Reddish Ramblers “ folk group for some excellent impromptu entertainment and we thank Andrew Gwynne MP for the hard work he has already done and for the many meetings he has to attend in the future on our behalf.

Lets all keep up the momentum of the campaign by all writing to the Northern Rail and GMPTE chief executives and by attending the next “Friends” meeting on Wed 27th February in the Bairstow Club Rupert Street. 7:30 pm.

David R Ashworth

If you want to write in to support the camapaign - here are the key contact details:

David Leather Chief Executive. GMPTE. 2 Piccadilly Place M/c M1 3BG - david.leather@gmpte.gov.uk

Heidi Mottram General Manager. Northern Rail
9 Rougier Street York YO1 6HZ

	"The Reddish Ramblers" the un-named folk group, performing at the Buffet Bar.
	Some of the early arrivers at Reddish South Station- about 50 to 60 got off and joined us in the Buffet at Stalybridge. !
	Some of the 50 to 60 passengers on the train.
	MP Andrew Gwynne alights from the train at Stalybridge