Latest News
December 21st 2011.
Dave Ashworth got onto the live Radio 2 Jeremy Vine mid-day show today (Wed 21st) in which he was discussing the various "Ghost Trains" on the rail network. He seemed to home in on the "South Manchester" line , so we contacted the show to give some more accurate facts about our service and ended up getting the campaign for proper services to Manchester Victoria some great publicity. Alan Jones of the Friends of Denton Station was also contacted and he too managed to get our joint campaign really well mentioned on the Radio 2 show. It was brilliant and to get the FORSS and FODS campaign on National radio was really good. If anyone heard the broadcast , please let us know on haleywatch@yahoo.co.uk , and tell us what you think.
December 6th 2011.
Mid Cheshire Rail Users Association MCRUA annouced today that a railtour next Spring will be stopping at Reddish South again. The tour will be going to Lincoln , Wainfleet and Skegness with options to get off at any one of them. It will be on Saturday May 5th, and more details about it are given below. All bookings must be done through MCRUA and you must state that you want to join this tour at REDDISH SOUTH.
This is FANTASTIC news and we hope it will be well supported by members and supporters of the Friends of Reddish South Station. Watch this space !
MCRUA Railtours
The Mid Cheshire Rail Users Association (MCRUA) has a reputation for well managed and popular special trains. This includes Diesel hauled Railtours and Steam Specials along the Mid Cheshire Line.
With the experience of organising special excursions for over 24 years, you are assured of an excellent trip.
Our next Diesel hauled Railtour, The Lincolnshire Poacher, is planned for Saturday May 5th 2012 when we head for Lincoln, Wainfleet and the Seaside town of Skegness - the home of the Jolly Fisherman.
At Lincoln you can visit the Cathedral and Castle and enjoy some retail therapy.
Alight at Wainfleet and we have arranged for you to visit and enjoy Batemans Brewery - a Victorian Brewhouse renown for its Real Ales. Your Brewery Tour, which will include some sampling, can also include lunch.
Skegness, of course, was made famous by the Railway Excursion.
In both directions, this Railtour calls at most stations on the Mid Cheshire Line and also Stockport, Reddish South and Marple.
MCRUA celebrates its 25th Anniversary in 2012 - so we are making extra effort to make this tour our best yet.
The approximate timings for this tour are as follows :--
Dep Reddish South 08:25 arr Lincoln 11:20, arr Wainfleet 12:45, arr Skegness 13:00
Dep Skegness 16:50, Wainfleet 17:00, Lincoln 18:15. Arr home Reddish South 20:45
Fares and How to Book
To book online go to the official MCRUA web-site and follow the instructions.
Fares start at £54 (Member) ; £59 (Non Member), Seniors £49 and £53.
Remember if you are a MCRUA Member, all your guests will travel at members' rate.
If you are not a member, you can opt for an Instant Membership at £6 and all passengers will travel at members' rate.
You can also print a Booking Form, Timetable and Guide on How to Book Online.
Please note that all timings are approximate.
Tickets and final timings will be issued by post a few days before departure.
All bookings are subject to MCRUA's Terms and Conditions.
December 6th 2011.
November 18th 2011. Todays "Ghost Train" was again another example of Northern Rails very poor efficiency , lack of information and yet again no ticket check or fare collection by the Conductor who retreated to the rear cabin as soon as the train departed ! The actual train was almost 25 minutes late and we only just decided to stay for it as a young chap on the Station had a real time departures app on his mobile phone. It was delayed twice but arrived just before 09:50. One passenger actually got off at Reddish South (probably thinking that she could have caught the bus and been in Reddish 20 minutes earlier ! ) We got off at Guide Bridge to catch the so called 10:15 to Piccadilly, that again was late and arrived at 10:25. Fortunately we met Andrew Gwynne MP, at Guide Bridge and persuaded him to join us for the Christmas "Folk Train" on Dec 16th. He has agreed and was infact pleased and enthusiastic about the invite and has added it to his diary already !
We distributed several flyers to passengers on the "Ghost Train" one of them actually commuted to Victoria via Piccadilly and the Metrolink and was trying the Stockport /Stalybridge/Victoria route as a change. A nice day out but come on Northern Rail , try to run some services on time, and please don't tell us again that only 42 people used the service all year when you don't collect fares or check tickets.
November 1st 2011
Kevin Fitzpatrick from BBC Radio Manchester interviews Treasurer Dot Ashworth and Chairman Cllr Tom Grundy , for the morning Alan Beswick show , that was broadcast on Tuesday 1st November.
The broadcast gave some great publicity for our campaign and because Northern Rail had apparently refused to answer our comments and possible plans for a service, it showed that we had a point ! !
October 8th 2011
Our new station wall mural " SECOND CHANCES" was unveilled this afternoon (Sat 8th Oct) by local MP for Denton and Reddish, Andrew Gwynne. Despite constant heavy drizzle well over 60 people attended the event and heard a mini-speech by Andrew stating the hard work done by the artist , the youth offending team and members of ARC who designed built and painted the superb mural. He also went on to say that the "Friends" group and all its supporters had done much to make the Station itself look much more presentable to everyone and that this work and the campaign behind it, to get regular passenger services had gained a lot of support and publicity with the event today. After thanking everyone for attending he finished off by pledging his continued support for the campaign.
The Friends group (FORSS) would like to thank MP Andrew Gwynne, Mayor of Stockport Cllr Les Jones who kindly cut the commemorative cake for us, Northern Rail representitives Mark Barker stakeholder manager, Theo McLauchlan station manager area west, and former area manager Adrian Berkley, the ARC team Jacqui Wood & artist Dave Clements , Northern Rail & ISS who erected the finished mural, to all our local Councillors Cllrs Walter Brett, Tom Grundy, David Wilson Craig White (Rose Hill) who have always supported us, and to all the many other attendees too many to mention , who all supported us today, some from as far away as Nottingham. Of course we also thank Brian Pendlebury and the Restorative Justice Team, who were the young artists who participated in the project. Well Done. The mural looks GREAT.
Finally, we would like to mention, and to thank, the "Friends of Denton Station" who are our "sister" friends group with the same aims as us , and who have supported and added to our campaign for services along the line.
If we have missed out any other organisation
representitives we sincerely apologise, but would like to Thank You anyway
, and we would like to invite you all to our next "FOLK TRAIN"
on Dec 16th.
MP for Reddish and Denton Andrew Gwynne, and FORSS treasurer Dot Ashworth stand next to the fabulous wall mural "Second Chances" that Andrew had just unveilled.
Some of the people who made it all possible, from Left to Right, Theo McLauchlan,Mark Barker, Brian Pendlebury, Jaqui Wood, Adrian Berkeley, MP Andrew Gwynne, Cllr Walter Brett and Dave Clements.
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The photo above was taken of the mural inside the ARC centre in Reddish where it was designed built and painted.
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Stockport Mayor Cllr Les Jones, who kindly cut our commemorative cake, shelters from the downpour with treasurer Dot Ashworth. Despite the constant rain well over 60 people attended the mural unveilling.
Christmas Folk Train. Dec 16th.
A date has now been set for this annual festive Folk Train with music on the train and in the fantastic buffet bar on Stalybridge Station. It is booked for Friday 16th December , picking up at 09:26 at Reddish South and 09:31 at Denton Stations.
Our next friends meeting will be on Thurs 15th December 7.30pm at the Community Centre (next to Reddish Library). Please come along as this is our Annual General Meeting. Also this meeting happens to be the evening BEFORE our Christmas Folk Train, that are now becoming quite famous.
Railtours.
The first steam railtour of the season came through Reddish
South on it's way back to Cleethorpes on a re-organised tour on Saturday
, with a replacement " 4-6-0 Black Five " loco replacing the booked
Southern Region 4-6-2 pacific "Tangmere". The loco had stopped
for water at Denton Station which will be regularly used this summer for
watering the various steam railtour locos that will be using our line.
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The Friends of Reddish South Station have had some fantastic publicity in Britains very prestigious " Railway Magazine". They have featured an article on Britains Ghost Trains and Stations which of course highlights the Stockport to Stalybridge weekly "ghost train". However it mentions our campaign for services with our sister organisation Friends of Denton Station which is a fantastic coup in such a huge nationwide railway magazine. The article also has a half page photo of Reddish South Station.
August 2009
The "Scarborough Flyer" steam excursion arrives at the east coast resort with "Friends" members Dave and Dot on board.
Pacific 4-6-2 6233 Duchess of Sutherland steams through Reddish South Station on the newly laid track Fri 14th August, with the "Scarborough Flyer". This is one of The Railway Touring Company's series of August railtours that pick up passengers at Stockport. These steam railtours have been extended into September because of high demand , some go to Carlisle and some go to Scarborough.
Cllr Walter Brett welcomes Stockport's deputy Mayor and Mayoress, Cllrs Stuart and Christine Corris to the South Reddish Park Open Day on Sat 8th August. It was very pleasing to note that along with many other visitors to our stall, both Deputy Mayor and Mayoress Corris signed our petition and gave their backing to our campaign for passenger rail services from Reddish South Station. We Thank them, and all the other visitors for their support.
The Friends Group were on the Station this morning Fri 31st July, to wave through the first of the weekly "Scarborough Flyers" starting from Crewe . This mornings loco was Coronation class 4-6-2 pacific. 6233 Duchess of Sutherland. There will be different locos each week on this service.
June Track Work
June has seen a multi - million pound up-grade and new track laying scheme put into place right through Reddish South Station and beyond. Babcock Rail have ripped out all the old track and for several months now have been dropping off thousands of tons of new ballast at the side of the track in preparation for the major works commencing in early June. Teams of men have been working around the clock all this week removing all the old ballast and taking up all the old rails. Then working through the night special rail replacement trains were brought in to lay the brand new track that can be seen on these first few pictures. After that special ballast and track tamping machines slowly went along the new track to spread and level the ballast and to bed in the track. Despite once being told that this route was being shut down and mothballed, it can quite clearly be seen that all this expensive and vital work has been done as an investment to ensure that this vital rail artery is kept in tip-top condition. Therefore we must keep up the pressure on Northern Rail to open the line not just to all the various freight services but to passengers into and out of Manchester Victoria. The latest excuse from Northern Rail is that such a service would not be economically viable, yet they turn off their passengers at Stockport and force them to change trains for onward travel to Picaddilly. Why not allow them to stay on the trains, then pick up even more passengers at Reddish South and Denton and take them all to Victoria where most of them want to go anyway. Please write to the Manager of Northern Rail Mrs Kirsty Mottram and tell her that we want and need this service now and that it would be economically viable because hundreds of us would support it. !
New Friends Promotional Banner Introduced
The banner was made by Barclay Signs at the corner of Woodhall Road Reddish and we think they have made a great job of it. We are going to use it when the Friends of Reddish South group join other Friends groups on a trip to York. The train will be stopping at Reddish South Station on Sunday 14th June to pick them up, so the friends will be there with the banner to wave them off. Barclay signs used the photos off the web site because they were so good.
Recently the "Network Rail" track measurement and calibration train passed through Reddish South. It was seen passing the station and the pile of new ballast which has been placed there in preparation for the big track re-newal scheme being done in June.This multi-million pound scheme will see a few miles of brand new track being laid through Reddish South on this vital rail artery for Network Rail, and that shows that we must all keep pressing for a new passenger service along the line which was at one stage earmarked for complete closure. There are now several services every day which terminate at Stockport and then run empty through Reddish South and Denton and it is an almost insane and ludicrous waste of resources as to why these empty trains cannot be used for passengers to Manchester Victoria.
Also anyone can see empty diesel passenger trains,passing through Reddish South, both morning and evening going to/from Manchester Victoria which we are told cannot be used for passenger services as it "would not be economically viable" If they are empty, and we want to fill them, how can that not be economically viable.
Friends of Reddish South.
Friends in the Media.
A couple of articles from the local media and the Labour door flyer documenting the timetable changes.
Also a link spotted on the home MSM website counting down the top 10 "Whats the Point" - Denton station comes in at number 4! The picture is not of Denton (it looks like an Australian station?), but its some publicity!
http://uk.encarta.msn.com/encnet/features/lists/?article=PointlessDenton
Folk Train 4
After our very successful third Folk Train on Good Friday, it was agreed that we would look to run a fourth on Friday 28th August. We just need to check with Northern Rail that it won’t change the day it runs when the train timetable changes in May.
Next Friends Meeting -
Our next meeting is at 7-30pm Wednesday May 20th at the Labour Club Lloyd Street Heaton Norris Stockport.
All Welcome.
The New 2009 Timetable - Issued
The timetable has been released for the line for 2009. The once a week, one way, train remains. However the key change is that the service now runs on a Friday morning. Sadly this means the very popular "Folk Train" specials will not be able to run. This is a blow to the group as this activity raised support and visability of the need for a regular service on the route.
Watch this pace for further updates.
See below for a picture of the timetable at Reddish South:
Reddish South Station and the "impossible junction at Heaton Norris"
We keep being told that the junction at Heaton Norris has no capacity to allow any extra trains and that it is impossible to run any more services through it, but this week-end again showed that as well as all the normal freight trains that use this very busy line there were three more special excursions through Reddish South. The first two on Saturday were diesel hauled and "Friends" members Dave and Dot Ashworth were on one of them which was the Compass Tours Stratford -on-Avon Shakespear Special.. The other was a Carlisle bound diesel special starting in the midlands.
Then on Sunday morning and watched by about 10 or 12 people on the steps,
bridge and platform of Reddish South, the steam hauled "Buxton Spa
Express" came steaming through spot on time at 11:20am. This originated
at Manchester Victoria and used the exact same route that we want to re-ope!
n for passenger commuter services. The steam special ran through Stockport
and Hazel Grove up to Buxton and returned via New Mills Romiley Hyde Guide
Bridge and Ashburys, before turning to Miles Platting and into Manchester
Victoria. It was hauled by Class 5 "Black 5" 45407 which is based
at Bury on the East Lancashire Railway.
This continuous parade of special excursions along with of course all the
regular freight and infrastructure trains shows that the junction at Heaton
Norris is not "Full" or "Impossible to pass through"
as we keep being told by Network Rail, GMPTE and Northern rail and we must
continue to press for new passenger commuter services to Manchester Victoria.
Friends of Reddish South Station.
"Friends" secretary Kim Burrows, MP for Denton and Reddish Andrew Gwynne, and treasurer Dot Ashworth pose infront of the "Friends" display at the open day of the centenery of Reddish Community Centre, Library and Baths building on Sat 24th May.
Over 140 people signed our petition of support for new passenger rail services from Reddish South, and several more took membership forms for the society at the open day and it was agreed by all that it was avery succesful day in making many more people aware of our campaign. Not one single word of opposition was heard to our quest and in fact many people expressed the opinion that the road traffic congestion in Reddish was rapidly getting worse due to the lack of, and removal of the old bus lay-byes. "Friends of Reddish South Station"
Many Thanks to all in the "Friends" group who supported the open
day and who provided pictures , maps and memorobilia, and of course their
valuable time on Saturday.
A couple more pictures from the day:
The Friends will have a display at the Reddish Community Centre Silver Jubilee celebrations on Saturday 24th May starting at 10am. Please visit and come along to the display.
The Library, Fire Station and Swimming Baths opened on 1908 - the library is still in use, the fire station is now the community centre, sadly the baths closed a few years ago and lay abandoned. It is located on Gorton road, 2 minutes from Houldsworth Sq.
The next meeting for the Friends is on Wednesday 30th April 7:30 pm at the Bairstow Club. Please come along and support the group. We are hoping that by then we will have got a date sorted for a Spring Clean of the Station
Our new logo is launched - Thanks to the GMPTE who have designed and produced a logo for us, which is in line with other "Friends" organisations in the area.
Above: Taken from the Stockport Express. Wed January 23rd 2008.
Below: A Press Release taken from the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce (Stockport):
PRESS RELEASE 15/01/2008
Chamber Joins Campaign to Reopen Reddish South Station
Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce has lent its support to the campaign to reopen Reddish South Station.
Paul Kirkham, Stockport Local Manager at the Chamber, said: “The rush hour traffic through Reddish gets worse every year. The only choice many local commuters have is the car or the bus, so either way they are stuck in the same gridlock.
“It’s highly unlikely that the Metrolink will ever come to Reddish so reopening the station is the only answer to the town’s transport problems.”
Reddish South Station is currently served by one train a week travelling in one direction.
Paul said: “The station and the line are already in place, so all we need are some trains. A regular train service to Manchester would make commuting into the city centre easier, cut congestion and make Reddish a more attractive place for businesses.”
ENDS
For more information contact Simon Cronin, Press and PR Officer at Greater
Manchester Chamber, on 0161 237 4226.