OLDHAM LOOP ROLLING STOCK

That this House notes that the Department for Transport will not be funding the retention of the Oldham 5 loopline rolling stock in Greater Manchester; is concerned that the Department expects the Greater Manchester Public Transport Executive, the Integrated Transport Authority and Northern Rail to pay the leasing costs for Oldham loop rolling stock; further notes that the Department has saved £8 million a year on subsidies due to the imminent closure of the Oldham loop for conversion to Metrolink; acknowledges the lack of progress concerning the ordering of High Level Output Specification rolling stock; concludes that the combination of these factors will render it impossible to relieve overcrowding on the most heavily utilised routes in Greater Manchester; and urges the Department for Transport to re-consider funding for Oldham 5 given the impact it will have on commuters from Rochdale, Greenfield, Stalybridge, Ashton, Bolton, Atherton, Stockport and Manchester.