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Back to the past to beat tolls?

Ailsa Cranna
3/ 7/2008

COMMUTERS will be going back to the past if multi-million pound plans to extend a historic railway are given the green light.

Bury Council hopes to pour £17m into extending the East Lancashire Railway (ELR) to Manchester Victoria for commuters.

The money would come from the £3bn windfall to upgrade public transport, part of which will come from Greater Manchester’s controversial congestion charge scheme if it goes ahead. It could therefore see thousands of people beating the tolls and using the unique transport service.

The plans for ELR form part of a report which could see commuters picking up diesel trains which would travel from Bolton Street into Manchester city centre.

General manager at the ELR Andy Coward said: "These plans have been in the pipeline for some time. It’s hoped commuters will be able to use the line Monday to Friday during peak times.

"There is no suggestion that this would interfere with ELR’s popular steam train services and activity weekends.

"The Bolton Street station will always be a heritage centre."

The line opened in 1846 but finished passenger services in 1956, and transport of goods in 1963.

It reopened as a heritage centre in 1987 and runs regular events.