Plea to leave cars at home

RAIL passengers face two years of transport misery when the Oldham loop line closes, are being urged not to resort to their cars.

The line between Oldham and Manchester will close on Saturday for around two years for conversion to take Metrolink trams.

Council planners say rail passengers taking their cars to work could hit their congestion targets on the A62 into Manchester.

Instead travellers are being encouraged to use buses, bikes, or share cars.

And there will be incentives such as bus passes in an attempt to put the brake on congestion.

Oldham Council has been awarded £100,000 from the Greater Manchester congestion performance fund to conduct surveys among rail passengers before the closure.

The surveys are being carried out by the Greater Manchester Transportation Unit, which will invite people to join a database for an individualised transport plan, backed by bus operators and Greater Manchester Passenger Transport executive.