Leek to Stoke railway passes first hurdle

North Staffordshire’s MPs and local authority leaders have welcomed the news that their bid to reopen the railway between Leek and Stoke has cleared the first hurdle.

Working together, Jack Brereton, Karen Bradley, Jo Gideon and Jonathan Gullis, and supported by Cllrs Abi Brown and Sybil Ralphs, put in a bid to the Restoring Your Railway Fund for money to make it possible to restore a rail link between the City and the Moorlands.  Such a link would benefit not just towns and villages in the Moorlands, but also places like Milton, Abbey Hulton and Fenton Manor in the City.

The Department for Transport has confirmed that they agree that there could be economic benefit to reinstating the rail link that has been closed since the Beeching cuts of the 1950s.

The team have now been invited to work with the Department of Transport to see how to make this a reality, considering both the benefits of such a link and how to minimise disruption for people who are worried about such a move.

Commenting Moorlands MP, Karen Bradley said:

“A rail link into the Moorlands would be of real benefit to people and employers.  The roads into the City are becoming more and more congested and it takes ever longer for people to get about.  Such a link would open up the Moorlands to many more opportunities for new jobs, visitors and travel further afield.  I have worked with Cllr Ralphs on this for many years and it is great to see us get a chance to make this a reality.”