Step-free access plans for two Tameside railway stations

Two Tameside railway stations are set for major accessibility improvements as part of a programme to provide step-free access at six stations across Greater Manchester.

Flowery Field and Newton-for-Hyde are among the six stations where Kier has been appointed by Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) to design and deliver accessibility upgrades.

The programme is being funded through the Department for Transport’s Access for All Programme and the locally devolved City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS).

The improvements are intended to provide step-free access and make the stations easier to use for passengers, including people with reduced mobility and those travelling with luggage, bicycles, or prams.

Kier will assess options and develop detailed designs before any work begins, then work with its partners to identify ways of delivering the upgrades, and finally complete the improvement works at each station.

Flowery Field recorded 183,740 passenger journeys in the 2024/25 reporting year, while 139,956 passengers are recorded as having travelled through Newton-for-Hyde, according to figures from the Office of Rail and Road.

Mandy Duncan, managing director for rail and aviation at Kier Infrastructure, said:

"We are delighted to have been selected to deliver these important improvements for communities across Greater Manchester. These works will make a real difference to passengers, making the stations more inclusive for all that use them, particularly people with reduced mobility and those travelling with luggage, bicycles or prams. We look forward to working closely in collaboration with TfGM and partners Network Rail, Vextrix, Tony Gee and Partners and Northern, to deliver these valuable enhancements."

Simon Elliott, network director rail at TfGM, said:

"Delivering accessibility improvements at these six stations is absolutely key to our ambitions as we continue to build a public transport network that works for everyone in Greater Manchester. We’ll be working closely with Kier and our partners in the rail industry to help ensure that these upgrades remove barriers to travel and create a welcoming, attractive and customer-friendly experience at all these stations."

The other Greater Manchester stations included in the programme are Levenshulme, Davenport, Woodsmoor and Bredbury.

Levenshulme recorded 472,012 passenger journeys in 2024/25, while Davenport saw around 291,000, Woodsmoor approximately 247,000, and Bredbury just over 172,000.

The appointment remains subject to full business case and railway approvals.