On Saturday 3rd October, the last train will run from Manchester to Rochdale via Oldham, on the "Oldham loop".

This is to pave the way for it's rebirth as the Rochdale branch of Metrolink, in 2012. Hooray for the Metrolink. What a shame we have to sacrifice yet another railway line to feed this behemoth. If the Altrincham service is anything to go by, the good folk of Rochdale will (in three years time) have the choice of a train to Manchester, or a bumpier*, more expensive tram ride. The denziens of Oldham won't get that choice.

Heaven forbid that we should convert a road into a tramline.

* Light rail tracks require less maintenance than mainline tracks, hence the bumpier ride on the tram.