Anger at closure of 'vital' station underpass during rail strikes

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

A train company have been slammed after they said a well-used station underpass which links a Stockport suburb with the town centre would be closed during next week's rail strikes.

More than 40,000 staff at Network Rail and 13 train operators are expected to walk out next week on Tuesday 21, Thursday 23 and Saturday 25 June in a dispute over pay and redundancies. It means the number of services being run is being dramatically slashed with a number of stations not being served, including Stockport.

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However, a local councillor has joined a number of residents in hitting out at Avanti West Coast, who manages the station after they announced it would closed completely on the day of the strikes.

It means a tunnel which runs underneath the railway line between Edgeley and the town centre will also be out of use. Avanti say for "security purposes" it cannot be left open unless the station is staffed and that all rail staff will be required on routes where services are running.

However, Edgeley ward councillor Shelia Bailey accused them of being 'inconsiderate' to locals with the move. The underpass runs from the Edgeley station entrance on Station Road to the town centre entrance on the opposite side of the tracks, at Grand Central.

It is a widely used route into the town centre amongst those living in Edgeley in Shaw Heath. There was an outcry in 2015, with over 5,000 people signing a petition when ticket barriers were installed at either end. as part of a bid to clamp down on fare dodging. However, those wanting to pass through are now allowed to do so by station staff.

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