New platform surface at Slaithwaite

Posted on January 16, 2012 by admin

Anyone who has used Slaithwaite station in the past year or so cannot failed to have noticed the modern art on the platform in the form of yellow-edged patches covering various places where the original platform surface has rotted away.

On some parts of the station there is more patch than platform.

This could not go on for ever, and it hasn’t. So, on the Manchester-bound platform, about one third of the platform length has been resurfaced, with a tactile strip along it.

As yet, that’s all that has been done. The rest of platform 2, and all of platform 1, remains a thing of shreds and patches.

Replacement of the platform should have been used as an opportunity to lengthen the platforms to take four-carriage trains, but this didn’t happen.

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Sunday line closures in 2012

Posted on January 12, 2012 by admin

This is a bit of advance warning about Sunday line closures in 2012.

Regular travellers will be aware that our line closes on Sundays during the Autumn to allow maintenance to take place in Standedge tunnel.

In 2012, there will be some additional closures.

The reason for this is that Stalybridge station is to be remodelled, creating two extra platforms. One is to be a bay platform facing towards Manchester Victoria, next to the buffet bar. This will be for the Stalybridge to Liverpool trains which will no longer have to cross the main line. There will be one additional through platform, which will enable express trains to overtake local trains at Stalybridge, in either direction. This gives more flexibility to reduce the impact of delays.

 

The construction process will cause some disruption.

 

There will be no Sunday trains from 1st April to 24th June and again from 16th September through to December. [Actually that’s not quite true, there will be one mid-evening train from Huddersfield to Marsden and back.]

 

During October half term the line will be closed (a “complete blockade” at Stalybridge, as it has been described) with Trans Pennine expresses sent along the Calder Valley route through Todmorden & Rochdale and a replacement bus between Victoria and Huddersfield.

 

Hopefully Northern Rail and Metro will make sure passengers are kept informed, but just in case they don’t, we will put information up on the SMART website nearer the time.

 

SMART will be seeking to persuade Northern Rail and Metro to run hourly trains between Huddersfield and Marsden during the week of the “blockade” during October half term.

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Next meeting of SHRUG

Posted on January 2, 2012 by admin

The next meeting of SHRUG will take place at the Uppermill Civic Hall, Court Street, Uppermill (OL3 6AE) on Wednesday 11th January 2012 at 7.15pm.

 

Mark Barker, the Client & Stakeholder Manager West for Northern Rail has accepted our invitation to attend, along with Stephen Green who is the manager for the line.

 

Mark Barker and Stephen Green are planning to do a “meet the manager” event at Greenfield station from 4.30 to 5.30, before the meeting at 7.15.

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Help stop Cable Theft disruption – Sign the petition!

Posted on December 8, 2011 by admin

Railway cable theft is a huge problem and causes massive disruption to passengers – and sadly it’s been a particular problem in the great cities of the north.

You are probably aware that nationally we have seen a huge increase in cable theft this year of railway infrastructure and on other significant national infrastructures. This activity, as well as causing disruption to passengers, is also damaging the economy as the impact can mean that passengers are unable to get to work on time or get to their business meetings.

The rail industry has attempted to diminish the level of cable theft through the implementation of covert CCTV, burying cables, the invisible marking of cables, gluing cables in place and the use of trembler alarms. The industry has also worked with the British Transport Police and high profile media campaigns such as Crimewatch to educate people about cable theft. However, these actions are still not enough to eradicate cable theft entirely, which is why all national railway companies are supporting the initiative presented to Parliament in the week beginning 14th November to reform the outdated Scrap Metal Dealers Act 1964.

The significant impact of metal theft is also damaging national infrastructure such as energy, telecommunications and transport networks. It is destroying our heritage and communities through attacks on churches, public art and even war memorials.
What can you do to help?

There is a Bill before Parliament to amend the law introduced by Graham Jones MP. The Government must support this Bill. It will provide for a robust licensing regime with requirements on dealers to establish the origin of materials, greater police and Magistrate powers to close and prevent the re-opening of scrap metal dealers who do not conform to licence conditions and a cashless system for payments with requirement for proof of identity of seller and receiver.

To register your support to this Bill, simply click on the link below to access the petition and show your support. 

Here is a link to an e-petition asking Parliament to consider introducing legislation aimed at making cash transactions at scrap metal dealers illegal. This would help enormously in the battle against cable and metal theft as it would ensure both a paper and electronic trail on all transactions. The petition requires a minimum of 100,000 signatures before it will be considered by Parliament.

 

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