The Greater Manchester borough of Stockport could welcome four new train stations by 2042, with work due to commence on the first within the next year. A new draft transport strategy published ahead of a Stockport Council meeting on June 8 has revealed plans for the borough, which include new rail stations to be built.
The Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) has previously announced plans to expand the Bee Network, which include integrating local rail services by 2030. To complement these plans, Stockport Council has revealed their strategy to improve transport in the borough by 2042, which includes a revamped Stockport station; a new station in Cheadle; step-free access on more platforms; and the extension of the Didsbury tramline to Stockport.
What are the potential new rail stations in Stockport?
Stockport Council has secured investment for a new rail station in Cheadle, next to the Alexandra Hospital, which will run services on the Chester to Manchester (Mid-Cheshire) line, stopping at Stockport town centre, Manchester Piccadilly and Chester.
Funding was approved in 2022, and full planning permission for the scheme was granted in October 2023. Council papers read: “Our aim is that scheme delivery will start at the station over the coming year, with TfGM expected to take over operation and maintenance of the station site once the works are completed”.
In addition to Cheadle, the council also plans to investigate the potential for a new rail station at Stanley Green, which the report says could “support planned development in Heald Green”. The Heald Green East housing development masterplan includes safeguarded land for potential future park-and-ride and potential future rail station.
The Stockport Council report also said it has considered the potential for a new rail station at High Lane, with recognition of the impact this would have on Middlewood station. Plus, the report mentioned a potential new rail station at Adswood on the Mid-Cheshire line; however, the council recognises that it is likely to be dependent on future tram-train proposals.
Why does the borough need more train stations?
The borough of Stockport is currently served by nine passenger rail lines and 19 stations. All Stockport stations, apart from Reddish South, “offer direct services to Manchester Piccadilly and provide highly competitive journey times compared to driving”, according to the council strategy report.
In contrast, only seven stations (Bramhall, Cheadle Hulme, Heaton Chapel, Middlewood, Hazel Grove, Woodsmoor and Davenport) currently offer regular direct services to Stockport town centre. Whilst Reddish South also offers a direct service to Stockport town centre via the Stockport to Stalybridge line, it is currently a very limited parliamentary service, carrying just 128 passengers in 2023/24. Despite these very low passenger numbers, the line itself is used regularly for freight traffic and empty stock transfers.
Stockport borough’s remaining ten stations (Heald Green, Gatley, Rose Hill Marple, Romiley, Woodley, Strines, Marple, Bredbury, Brinnington and Reddish North) all require interchange at Manchester Piccadilly for anyone wishing to make any onward journey to Stockport town centre. The council document says, “This lack of high-quality intra-borough connectivity is symptomatic of the city region’s current radially focused rail network and the closure of some of the borough’s historical railways, limiting orbital travel”.
What other plans feature in the Stockport transport strategy?
Stockport station redevelopment
In the draft transport strategy report, plans to redevelop Stockport station were expressed, with the council wanting to turn it into “a state-of-the-art thriving transport hub” with a new primary eastern concourse, a new footbridge, a new Edgeley western entrance, refurbished subway for emergency access, refurbished platform buildings and better access. Work is currently progressing to look at funding works at the station through local transport funding.
Connections to Manchester Airport
Stockport Council has also shared plans to improve connections to Manchester Airport, potentially through a new east-west rapid bus transit service, and it may also explore extending the tram network further into the borough in the future. The council report said recent work “has indicated it may be possible to operate tram-train services between Stockport and the Airport”. This would go via the mid-Cheshire line and call at the new Cheadle station.
However, those plans are dependent on several factors and could even connect with the new railway planned to run between Liverpool, Warrington, and Manchester.
Extending the tram network
On extensions to the Manchester tram network from Didsbury, the council said TfGM “is progressing work to establish this business case alongside further development of potential tram/tram-train route options”. Route options are being identified with funding coming from a £2.5bn fund.
The transport strategy report also mentioned that services could run in the future from Manchester Piccadilly to Rose Hill Marple via Guide Bridge, as well as Marple via Bredbury.
Plus, the existing yet underused railway line between Reddish and Denton could also be turned into a new tramline; however, studies found that population density along this route has large gaps. Although, should circumstances change and the rapid transit network in Stockport progresses, the council report says there “could be additional benefits from linking services into Tameside via this line”.