Local MP welcomes new platform at Manchester Airport

1.33.58pm GMT Fri 9th Jan 2009

Manchester Airport Rail Station gets new platform

Mark Hunter MP for the Cheadle constituency, welcomes the opening of the new platform at Manchester Airport Rail Terminal.

Geoff Hoon, the Secretary of State for Transport today officially opened the new platform which cost £15 million to build. The Secretary of State hopes that the new platform will allow the number of services running between Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Airport to increase by 50%.

Commenting on the news Mr Hunter said: "This is great news for our area. Another platform will create extra capacity into Manchester Airport and improve reliability for both passengers and airport workers. With these upgrades hopefully more people will use decide to use public transport to travel to and from the airport and therefore reduce their carbon footprint.

"However the Government could and should be doing more to ensure that Manchester Airport remains viable and that we aren't just shuttled down to Heathrow for all long-haul flights. If the Department of Transport is really serious about boosting Manchester's economy and reducing the UK's carbon footprint it shouldn't be encouraging all international flights to be directed through London - residents should be able to fly direct to major international destinations from their local Airport. Not only will that help keep jobs in the area but it will reduce the carbon impact of any flights."

"Now we just need the Government to improve capacity on the West Coast Main Line. As many residents can testify it's a very crowded service with no seats available on peak time journeys, and with the number of rail passengers looking to rise again this year the Government is already far behind where it needs to be if it is to accommodate these extra passengers."