Another extract from a letter dated 5th February 2018 from Leo Goodwin, Managing Director of TPE, to Andy Burnham.
“We note the concerns that have been raised by certain travellers along this route regarding the new timetable. This is inherent in any major timetable change, however we believe that the overall package and improvements that TPE will bring will significantly increase the ridership from these [Slaithwaite, Marsden, Greenfield, Mossley] stations.”
“We forecast that our passenger numbers from Greenfield, Mossley, Marsden and Slaithwaite to Manchester will increase significantly from the point of transfer in May 2018 and the end of franchise in 2023.”
By “concerns raised by certain travellers”, Leo Goodwin means us.
Eight weeks in, and not only have passenger numbers failed to rise, but they have fallen substantially thanks to a timetable that isn’t fit for purpose, and a failure (with the honourable exception of one single cancellation-free weekday on 20th June) to run a service which even resembled the published timetable. We would have preferred it for TPE to have proved us wrong.