End of the line for old stations

Flashback . . . Hollinwood rail station as it looked in 1962

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It’s the end of the year and the end of the line for Oldham’s rail stations — but full steam ahead on work for the new Metrolink tram service.

Failsworth and Hollinwood stations have gone, Mumps is boarded up and desolate, and Shaw’s level crossing in Beal Lane is blocked off.

Tracks are being taken up at Werneth, 12 weeks after the closure of the Oldham loop line in October.

The new Metrolink line between Manchester Victoria and Central Park, Manchester, will open in spring 2011, the section to Oldham Mumps will open in autumn 2011 and the full line will open in spring 2012.

The new trams will run to Shaw every six minutes and to Rochdale train station every 12 minutes in the peak hours.

Existing train stations on the Oldham and Rochdale line will be replaced with Metrolink stops, and six new stops will be built at Monsall and Central Park in Manchester, South Chadderton, Freehold and Newbold in Rochdale.

The new trams are made in Vienna will be light and airy with full-length glass double doors, and a yellow and silver colour scheme.