4 days Ago
Bolton “remains forgotten” as the tram system expands across the region, a debate has heard. Bringing the Metrolink to the borough has been a hotly debated topic over the years, with previous Conservative MP for Bolton North East Mark Logan having made it a key pledge. His Labour successor Kirith Entwistle MP repeated the call for the trams to come to her area in her very first speech in Parliament and has again said this must be a priority in a recent debate.
Ms Entwistle said: “When transport in Bolton fails, everything else suffers. “That is why, since my first speech in Parliament, I have called for Metrolink to be extended to Bolton and that call remains urgent. Bolton North East MP Kirith Entwistle raised the Metrolink issue at a Westminster Hall debate (Image: Office of Kirith Entwistle MP) “Metrolink is expanding, yet Bolton, one of Greater Manchester’s largest towns, remains forgotten.
“For those who say that our rail services are already good enough, I invite them to catch a train from Bolton late at night or at the weekend, or indeed on their first day of work and be met with a cancelled train, as I experienced on my first day travelling down to this place.” Ms Entwistle told a Westminster Hall debate that around a third of trains coming into Bolton arrive late, while a lack of investment in transport was holding the borough back. She said: “No child in Breightmet should have to miss an after-school club because they cannot find a bus.
“No college student in Little Lever should have to turn down an apprenticeship because fares are too high. ALSO READ: Bringing trams to Bolton still 'a long term aspiration' says Burnham ALSO READ: Andy Burnham on trams coming to Bolton as he discusses public transport changes ALSO READ: Bolton station among the first to be included in radical shake-up of train services “No adult in Bromley Cross should have to miss a job interview because their trains are cancelled again.” On a visit to Farnworth in March last year, Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham said bringing trams to the borough remained a “long term aspiration".
Last week Mr Burnham said that extending the Metrolink to Bolton was “absolutely on our list of things that we would like to do". This was while introducing the new tap in, tap out service on the Bee Network on Sunday, March 23, which aims to make travel easier on buses and trams. But no recent moves have been made to make this a reality.
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