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FRECCLES - Friends of Eccles Station
* Click here for real-time train running information for Eccles *
Capacity increase in December 2024
Northern have announced that from 16th December virtually all Liverpool – Manchester Airport weekday services, except for an odd early and late trip, will be planned for 4 carriage 331 units . This should help to avoid overcrowding on Eccles trains which we are currently seeing at peak times.
July 2024: Big plans for Eccles rail services
GM Mayor Andy Burnham announced that the Wigan - Golborne - Eccles - Victoria rail service would be one of eight lines to come under local TfGM control by 2028. For detailed information see the TfGM press release and the Draft Greater Manchester Rapid Transit Strategy.
Plans include:- Service improvements, with a minimum of two trains an hour at all stations where possible
- New, environmentally friendly trains, with improved on-board facilities and better accessibility
- More fully accessible stations across Greater Manchester
- Integrated fares, clear Bee Network branding across trains and stations and better customer information
- Modern new train stations at Golborne and Cheadle
Could this be the start at last of a frequent train service and of an accessible station for Eccles ?
Proposal for a Rochdale - Eccles - London train service by 2027
May 2024 FirstGroup plc have submitted an application to the government's Office for Rail and Road (ORR) to run a new open access rail service between Rochdale and London Euston, calling at Manchester Victoria, Eccles, Newton-le-Willows and Warrington Bank Quay. Further details can be found here.
The trains would be run by their subsidiary Lumo, which currently runs trains between London and Edinburgh on the East Coast main line. There would be six return journeys a day. All of the trains for this new route will be electric and battery powered, rather than diesel, and the service will be operated by brand new trains built in the UK.
A consultation period will now follow, as well as discussion with Network Rail to secure the required approvals. It is anticipated that services could begin in the 2027 calendar year.
There is no guarantee that this application will be successful. FRECCLES welcomes any viable proposal to provide more trains for Eccles, in particular one that would provide a direct Eccles - London service. You may remember that in 2010 a different organisation, Alliance Rail, made an unsuccessful application to run a service from Bradford to London via Eccles. We hope this one will be more successful.
Accessible toilet pod for Eccles Station
A new accessible toilet pod is being installed at Eccles Station. Funded by Northern and Transport for Greater Manchester, this project is part of ongoing efforts to improve station facilities across Greater Manchester. It was expected to be completed by the end of May 2024 ** DELAYED AWAITING APPROVAL TO LIFT POD OVER WEIGHT-RESTRICTED BRIDGE STRUCTURE **.
Accessibility and disability groups have offered their expertise and guidance to ensure all needs are being met by these completely accessible toilets. The toilet pod will have controlled access via either a radar key, a train ticket QR code or video access linked directly to Northern’s 24hr customer contact centre.
This photo shows a similar pod that has been installed at another station. For more information see Northern's Press Release.
Strong growth in passenger numbers at Eccles
Eccles Station recorded its highest ever annual passenger usage estimates figure, 215,838, in the period April 2022 to March 2023. This is a 31% increase over last year, which compares with a 18% increase for all Greater Manchester stations combined. Source: Office of Rail and Road, 14 Dec 2023
FRECCLES says this is powerful evidence of the need for more frequent trains at Eccles.
Action to reduce overcrowding announced
Northern have announced that from the December 2023 winter timetable change, some trains on the Chat Moss line through Eccles will see an increase in capacity where demand is higher, running as 4 carriages instead of 3.
New Artwork at Eccles Station
FRECCLES has installed series of posters of old tickets on the new fence on platform 1 at Eccles Station. Please come along and have a look at them. They have been generously funded by Northern and TfGM.
Who are FRECCLES ?
FRECCLES was established on 15th September 2005, the 175th anniversary of the opening of the world's first main line passenger railway between Manchester and Liverpool through Eccles on 15th September 1830. Working in partnership with ACoRP, TfGM, Salford City Council, Northern Rail and Network Rail, we aim to improve the environment and passenger services at Eccles Station and the immediate surrounding area and to put the station back into the heart of the community.
Now in its fifteenth year, FRECCLES can claim to be well on the way to achieving many of these objectives. Certainly we have the strong support of all the above organisations, which recognise the work we have carried out to transform the appearance of the station. This recognition has been accompanied by significant funding which has heped us, for example, in our gardening work. However, we still lack a frequent train service - surely the most important facility one would hope to find at a railway station - and one which our many supporters in the local community expect us to correct at a stroke !
Freccles has a membership of around 40 and at least half of these are very active, being members of at least one of our subgroups - Service Development, Gardening, Heritage, Publicity and Funding. Some of these groups have separate sections on this website where you can find out more about their work. If you would like to join us, or to find out more about FRECCLES, you can contact us by email at info@freccles.org.uk or visit the Freccles page on Facebook.