The new train timetable effective from 18th May has now been published.
There are major changes, made necessary by the introduction of a fifth express train between Manchester and Leeds. The new timetable contains a number of changes that SMART and SHRUG have been advocating, including reinstating the Slaithwaite stop in the 1727 from Victoria, earlier first trains of the day in both directions and a later last train from Huddersfield on Sundays, and better connections at Stalybridge in both directions.
It’s never possible to please everybody, but overall we would judge it’s an improvement on the current timetable.
Major changes, summarised as follows:
Weekdays towards Huddersfield
– first train, through to Leeds, is at 0615 (Marsden) 0619 (Slaithwaite)rather than 0648/0652
– daytime departures towards Huddersfield will be at xx29/xx33 rather than xx59/xx03
– 1727 from Victoria now calls at Slaithwaite
– Most daytime trains run through from Blackpool North, some trains in the evening peak run through from Southport & Wigan
Saturdays towards Huddersfield
– First train to Huddersfield is earlier
– daytime departures towards Huddersfield will be at xx29/xx33 rather than xx59/xx03
– Most daytime trains run through from Blackpool North, some trains in the evening peak run through from Southport & Wigan
Sundays towards Huddersfield
– first train to Huddersfield is 22’ earlier
– daytime departures towards Huddersfield will be at xx45/xx49 rather than xx15/xx19
Weekdays towards Victoria
– earlier first train to Victoria
– daytime departures towards Victoria will be at xx22 (Slaithwaite) xx29 (Marsden) rather than xx37/xx43
– Most daytime trains run through to Wigan & some to Southport
Saturdays towards Victoria
– earlier first train to Manchester, arrives Victoria at 0804 rather than 0831
– daytime departures towards Victoria will be at xx22/xx29 rather than xx37/xx43 – Most daytime trains run through to Wigan
Sundays towards Victoria
– earlier first train
– daytime departures towards Victoria will be at xx22/xx27 rather than xx43/ xx50 – later last train
General
– better connections at Stalybridge to/from Piccadilly, in both directions except after 7pm coming from Piccadilly
– one fewer train on Saturday. The one which has been withdrawn is a mid-evening train which goes from Huddersfield to Marsden & back
– one additional train on Sundays
Because of a technical problem which we have hitherto been unable to resolve, we are unable to attach the new timetable as a pdf document.
The major downside to the timetable is that it leaves a hour gap in the morning peak, between 0710 & 0808 (Huddersfield arrival times). Currently the gap is between 0741 & 0824 (Huddersfield arrival times). Northern Rail’s timetable planners had limited scope to change this, with their trains having to be fitted in between the expresses.
A train arriving Huddersfield at 0738 calls at Mossley & Greenfield, one arriving at 0808 calls at Marsden & Slaithwaite. The choice available was to swap calls on these two trains. The option chosen is probably better for people travelling to Huddersfield, the other option would have been better for people travelling to Leeds.
It highlights the need to deliver additional capacity through electrification and the Northern Hub, but then to make sure that additional capacity is used to benefit local passengers, not just passengers between Leeds and Manchester.
Trains times have now been published on the websites of Northern Rail and Metro