Navendu Mishra

I welcome the opportunity to debate the condition of Stockport railway station. I thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker, and Mr Speaker for granting time for the debate. I refer the House to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests—in particular to the donations from trade unions to the Stockport constituency Labour party. First, I thank all staff at Stockport station, including cleaners, security staff, engineers, ticket office staff, platform safety staff and everyone in the retail outlets. I am a frequent user of Stockport station, and I know that many of my parliamentary colleagues from Greater Manchester prefer to come to that station to get their train into London and will be familiar with its condition. Stockport has a rich and proud railway heritage, and I welcome this debate as we mark 200 years of British railways. The magnificent Stockport viaduct, one of Stockport’s most iconic landmarks, stands as a towering reminder of our town’s long connection to the railway, dating back to the 19th century. Completed in 1840, it remains one of the largest brick building structures in the country, and is a marvel of Victorian engineering. The railway helped Stockport to become a key part of the north-west’s industrial growth. It supported the growth of the cotton and hatting industries, connected workers to jobs and gave businesses access to markets across the country. I am not sure whether you have been to the Hat Works museum in Stockport, Madam Deputy Speaker, but may I invite you to visit? Even today, the railway continues to shape our local economy, connecting us to Manchester, London and beyond. Greater Manchester is the fastest-growing economy in the UK. Its £80 billion economy has grown by 50% since 2000, with a 4.5% gross value added in 2022 alone. We need a first-class, high-quality and reliable railway station to continue facilitating that growth. Hundreds of trains, be they passenger or freight trains, pass through Stockport station. I welcome the Government’s recent progress in establishing Great British Railways. The move to take passenger rail services into common ownership will allow for more reliable train services in Stockport and across the country. That was a key Labour manifesto promise, and we will deliver it in government. Stockport is a busy and important station. The latest figures show 3.8 million entries and exits in the past year—just under 4 million. The most popular destination from Stockport station is Manchester Piccadilly, with around 1.3 million journeys on that route annually. We hear a lot about climate change, net zero and pledges to tackle global warming. It is really important to invest in our public transport infrastructure to give people the option of a reasonably priced, reliable, safe public transport network. If we want people to leave their cars and personal vehicles at home and use public transport, high-quality services must be available at the station. One of the most serious issues that affects Stockport station is accessibility. Disabled passengers too often face faulty lifts and have no way to access the platforms.