Colne Valley rail users give just 2.5 stars to their rail service – after 343 people
responded to SMART survey in February 2025
The three most travelled to destinations were Leeds (52%), Manchester (26%) and
Huddersfield (13%)
The top three issues raised by a majority of respondents are reliability (82%), frequency
of service (67%) and connections (63%) – 79% said they would be more likely to use the
service if the frequency were increased to a train every half an hour throughout the day
83% are concerned by the recent loss of a direct service to Leeds
People are also concerned about the poor accessibility (particularly at Marsden),
overcrowding at peak times and the overall impact of service issues on commuters and
businesses which are leading to people abandoning public transport for the car
SMART will work with our local representatives to ensure TPE services and the TRU
deliver the service Colne Valley resident deserve.
Key Characteristics
The survey ran from 2nd– 16th February 2025. 343 responded – of which 325 were
primarily using Slaithwaite and Marsden to start their journeys (95% of respondents)
The three most travelled to destinations were Leeds (52%), Manchester (26%) and
Huddersfield (13%)
73% of respondents were using the service for leisure, with 63% using the service for
work (this adds up to more than 100% as people could select more than one).
Given the option to rate the service out of 5 stars, the people of the area gave an average
of 2.5 stars.
Priorities for Improvement
When given a choice of five areas to improve, people selected them in the following
order:
Reliability of service (82%)
Frequency of service (67%) – with comments saying that trains should be more
regular through the day and also later in the evening (with some people saying
they can no longer attend evening events in Leeds or Manchester due to
frequency/reliability issues)
Direct connections (63%)
Overcrowding (49%) – with people noting the use of three car services at peak
times as a particular bugbear
Accessibility (32%)
Other people also mentioned the cost of travel (particularly to Manchester), car parking,
more space for bikes on trains, the lack of access to the ticket machine at Marsden and
the cleanliness/lighting at stations. People particularly noted the impact this was having
on local businesses, with some people saying it meant that they lost work as a result.
79.3% of people said that increasing the frequency of the trains service to one train
every half an hour in each direction would increase their usage of the railway.
Direct services to Leeds
83% of people said they were concerned by the loss of direct service to Leeds, with the
following reasons given:
Inconvenience: frustration with the increased journey time and inconvenience
caused by the need to change trains at Huddersfield – particularly on the return
journey from Leeds where people might be waiting an hour for a connection if
missed. The change has led to longer overall travel times, missed connections,
and a less reliable commute.
Overcrowding: The change has resulted in overcrowded trains and platforms,
particularly at Huddersfield. Respondents report difficulties in finding seats.
Negative Impacts: People are feeling this as increased stress and difficulties in
managing childcare and work schedules. Many respondents mentioned
considering driving as a more reliable alternative. It also particularly affects
those with accessibility requirements (who may already be disadvantaged by
Marsden station issues).
Economy and Environment: The loss of direct train services has potential
negative effects on the local economy, as fewer people may choose to live in or
commute from the Colne Valley. Additionally, the increased reliance on cars for
commuting could lead to higher road congestion and pollution.
Representative comments made by rail users
“The availability of a regular service to Manchester and Leeds is the main reason why I can live in Marsden. Effective commuter services are essential to our community”
(Marsden, mostly uses for work)
“The reliability of the service has improved since the Government took over ownership of TPE. It is very disappointing that the timetable changes were enacted with no regard for the passengers of the commuter towns. I pay the same fair for a worse service. This is not reasonable.”
(Slaithwaite, mostly uses for work)
“We have a holiday let and if the train services were more often and reliable we would certainly have more people coming to stay and helping the local economy”
(Slaithwaite,
mostly uses for leisure)
“My main complaint is about reliability. If I am attending any time-critical event I don’t use the train because of disappointment in the past”
(Marsden, mostly uses for leisure)
“Number of carriages on most services needs to be increased. I travel on the early morning Manchester Piccadilly train regularly & every time the conductor makes an announcement that the service is very busy this morning- but it’s every morning!”
(Slaithwaite, mostly uses for work)
Annex – Detail of Results
