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Re-introducing Sunday services Sunday services were withdrawn from Walkden many years ago. Since then demand for Sunday travel has grown and FOWS believe the increasing numbers of shops and attractions opening on Sundays means there is strong demand for re-introducing these services. Sunday services have already been re-introduced to some other stations in the area like Irlam, and Northern Rail are hoping to re-introduce them at Walkden too. Latest status ...(27 Apr 2008) FOWS have written to Northern Rail stressing the potential value of Sunday services. Worsley MP Barbara Keeley raised the issue with Northern Rail's Managing Director Heidi Mottram at a recent meeting on behalf of FOWS. Nothern Rail are thought to favour re-introduction of Sunday services if sufficient demand exists and GMPTE will back the move. At the moment we have no indication from GMPTE or Northern Rail if or when Sunday services may be resumed. Reducing rush-hour overcrowding
Trains from Walkden are usually only two carriages long due to a general shortage of carriages in the Manchester area. However, there is a particular problem with Walkden station where longer trains are prevented from stopping because the full length of platform is no longer in service. The recent introduction of longer-bodied trains on rush-hour services has alleviated some of the worst over-crowding and reliability problems. However, in view of ever-increasing passenger numbers FOWS are still campaigning for the wooden barrier that shortens the platform to be removed and the overgrown platform to be returned to use. This would allow longer trains, in particular the morning rush-hour services from Atherton, to call at Walkden. Latest status ...(27 Apr 2008) Northern Rail have commited to keep the pressure on Network Rail to complete their analysis and planning for repairing and re-opening the the disused section of platform. Neither organisation has commited to a timescale for this work. FOWS have offered to help reduced costs by, for example, clearing the vegetation from the overgrown platform.
The station is only staffed from 0645 to 1400, and is an intimidating place after dark or when fewer passengers are around. Vandalism is common, with graffiti on the walls, damage to the flower beds, and theft of the litter bins (pictured) the most usual casualties. FOWS believe that fitting CCTV cameras would discourage anti-social behaviour on the station during the evenings, improve the safety and comfort of genuine rail users, and help protect the station itself. FOWS have discussed the possible installation of CCTV cameras with GMPTE and Northern Rail. CCTV will soon be installed at stations between Wigan and Atherton thanks to GMPTE grants. GMPTE have also secured £50,000 funding from the Department for Transport to install similar facilities at the much less busy Swinton station. FOWS have written to GMPTE to ask for an explanation of why Walkden is repeatedly left out of their station improvement plans, especially as it is one of the busiest, and worst equipped, stations in the area. In the meantime, vandalism of litter bins and flower beds continues on a regular basis. Latest status ...(27 Apr 2008) We have still not received a reply to our
letter to GMPTE.
We understand the problem has been caused by track maintenance operations which have steadily raised the level of the railway lines over the years. Northern Rail, Network Rail, and GMPTE have all acknowledged the problem but no rectification work is planned. FOWS believe the large gap presents a serious safety issue, with at least two passengers having fallen into the gap and onto the track in the last few years. Latest status ... (10 Dec 2007) FOWS have written to the chairman of Network Rail about this specific problem, but been told that Network Rail have no plans to fix it until major construction work is next performed at the station. At present we do not believe any such work is planned, so we have escalated the issue to the government's rail safety watchdog (the Office of Rail Regulation) to ask for their intervention. (3 Feb 2008) The ORR have acknowledged there are stations that do not comply with current safety standards but they excuse Network Rail from taking action where the cost associated with the safety risk is too high. As the vertical step at Walkden is more than 2.5 times the safety standard of the Railway Group Standard, FOWS wrote to ORR again, pointing out that a lower cost solution to raising the platform may be to remove excess ballast from under the tracks. Latest status ...(27 Apr 2008) Safety inspectors were seen at the station soon
after our second letter to the ORR. However, we are still awaiting a reply or explanation of the inspector's findings.
There are no monitors or public announcements at Walkden when the station is unmanned, leaving passengers unaware of delays or cancellations. Latest status ... Walkden station was measured up for installation of a Passenger Information System in April this year but the funding needed to install the equipment is only being provided for stations between Wigan and Atherton. Walkden station is one of the busiest on the Atherton line, so FOWS have written to representatives of GMPTE and Salford City Council to ask that the same level of facilities are installed here. (3 Feb 2008) FOWS understand that Northern Rail and GMPTE are currently looking at the cost of installing a local PA system. This has taken several months and we are hoping for an update soon. Latest status ...(27 Apr 2008) There has been no further work on the local PA
system since February.
Increase car parking facilities Parking for passengers is very limited with nearby Park Road suffering the worst congestion. Considering the station's large catchment area (which includes Walkden, Worsley, Boothstown, Little Hulton and Astley, amongst other areas), the demand for a station car park is obvious. Latest status ... (10 Dec 2007) FOWS recently wrote to Salford Council asking that some of the land proposed for housing development along Holyoake Road be used as a station car park. This request was rejected, meaning that congestion and parking problems in the area are likely to get worse. FOWS continues to press local councillors to find a solution to this worsening problem. (3 Feb 2008) The Holyoake Road development was approved by Salford City Council without any provision for commuter parking. Unfortunately this can only mean the dire lack of parking available around the station - and the disruption to local residents and business - is set to get worse. Walkden Road runs immediately past the station entrance and is very busy during the rush hours. Crossing the road can be time-consuming and dangerous for passengers as drivers show little inclination to stop where there is no marked road-crossing. The overhead bridges make the area outside the entrance gloomy and add to the dangerous situation. Latest status ...FOWS are lobbying Salford City Council for the construction of a properly signed and marked pedestrian crossing outside the station. (3 Feb 2008) FOWS have been engaged with Salford City Council and the local Walkden Road Traders Group to devise solutions for the safety, parking and congestion problems around the station. (27 Apr 2008) Discussions with Salford City Council have gone well and they recently conducted a survey of passengers crossing the road outside the station (the results are not yet known). For passengers from Walkden travelling to Manchester Piccadilly or the airport, connection times at Salford Crescent vary widely. For trains leaving Walkden at around half-past the hour, the wait is usually 20 minutes or more. Latest status ...FOWS will lobby Northern Rail for better connections to the south of the city for all trains from Walkden. (3 Feb 2008) FOWS have been in contact with Network Rail regarding signalling arrangements at Salford Crescent. We have requested a change that might potentially allow some Victoria and Piccadilly bound trains to call at Salford Crescent simultaneously, thereby offering better connections for passengers on both services.
(27 Apr 2008) FOWS recently sent a list of suggestions
(download as a PDF) to Northern Rail for
relatively cheap and easily achieved "tweaks" to the timetable that could be a huge difference to the quality of
service from the station. We have not yet received a reply to this letter.
As the picture shows, trackside litter, peeling paintwork and overgrown tracks give a general feeling of scruffiness to the station environment. The staff at Walkden do a fantastic job of cleaning up litter every day, but these are problems in areas where the staff are not allowed to go. GMPTE are working towards the installation of bike lockers. Latest status ... (10 Dec 2007) FOWS have renovated and planted up flower beds on both platforms, and are pursuing more funding to install planters and baskets on the open areas of the platform. (27 Apr 2008) FOWS have secured a grant from Salford City Council's "In Bloom" fund to install some large planters on the open area of platform between the canopy and wooden fence. The planters have been built by a local engineering firm and will be installed on the platform in the next few weeks. Walkden station can only be accessed by climbing two sets of stairs from street level, rendering it practically inaccessible for many disabled people. Northern Rail's Disabled People's Protection Policy states that a taxi will be provided to convey disabled passengers to or from the nearest accessible station (Atherton) or an intermediate point as required by the passenger. However, FOWS believe that Walkden station should be accessible to all passengers who wish to use it and would like lifts or ramps installed such as those currently being added to stations along the Piccadilly-Manchester Airport line. A common complaint amongst regular passengers is that on-board ticket inspections are not made regularly enough, allowing valuable revenue to go uncollected. FOWS believe that a strong fare collection policy is in the best interests of all legitimate users of the local rail service. Latest status ... FOWS are pleased to note that ticket inspections are now conducted more regularly and that barrier checks in Manchester and Salford have been stepped up. |
Rush-hour services from Walkden, particularly in the morning, suffer from over-crowding sometimes
so severe that commuters are unable to board the train.
The height between carriage doors and the platform is as much as 17 inches
in some places, much too high for safe, comfortable boarding and
disembarking of trains.
The entrance hall and platforms at Walkden could be enhanced by measures
such as repainting and decorating, removal of lineside litter, and the
installation of facilities like bike lockers and litter bins.