We strongly recommend that local people who use the trains read through this press release and then have a look at the Northern Hub Website.
NETWORK RAIL CHALLENGED TO CORRECT NORTHERN HUB CONSULTATION ERRORS
Threat to local train services revealed
Network Rail has been challenged to correct serious errors and omissions in their high profile Northern Hub Consultation process.
In a letter to Network Rail, Councillor Richard Knowles (Opposition Leader TfGMC) said
“Your consultation brochures and web site focus on increasing the speed and frequency of inter-city journeys between Manchester and Leeds, Sheffield and Liverpool and almost completely ignore the important and growing market for local train services on these corridors. The Northern Hub investment must support and enhance both inter-city and local rail services.”
Network Rail’s Northern Hub website www.northernhub.co.uk claims to present evidence for every station in the Northern Hub area which consultees can access to see what the effects of the Northern Hub investment would be on services from their local station. Councillor Knowles visited this website and found that in Greater Manchester on the North TransPennine route two stations – Mossley and Greenfield – are omitted. He eventually found Greenfield mis-classified under Cheshire, which undermines confidence in Network Rail’s knowledge of its rail network, whilst Mossley does not appear anywhere.
Councillor Knowles’ letter notes that on theNorth TransPennine route the only comments on the website for the local stations of Marsden and Slaithwaite are “up to 6 trains per hour to Huddersfield from Manchester to Leeds” which does not benefit either station. There is no mention of re-opening the disused single line Standedge Tunnels, even though it is shown on the Northern Hub map, nor is there any assurance that the existing all-stations trains between Huddersfield and Manchester Victoria will be either retained or increased to half-hourly frequency. Indeed other evidence circulated by TfGM suggests that Network Rail are thinking of removing the Huddersfield to Manchester Victoria all-stations trains and replacing them with skip-stop services into Manchester Piccadilly which would sever direct rail links between Mossley, Greenfield, Marsden and Slaithwaite and with Ashton under Lyne and Manchester Victoria.
Councillor Knowles told Network Rail
“I am really concerned that whilst you are investigating electrification of the North TransPennine route between Manchester and York, you are failing to guarantee train paths either for the existing all stations local service between Huddersfield and Manchester Victoria or for an increase to half hourly frequency which the huge growth in patronage justifies especially from Greenfield and Mossley.”
“On theSouth TransPennine route however for Dore station you state “new tracks between Sheffield and Manchester allowing fast trains to overtake slower trains” which is shown in the same shading as Standedge Tunnels on the Northern Hub map. You also state that Dore station will have “faster services into Manchester Victoria” when Sheffield to Manchester trains are supposed to run to Manchester Piccadilly.
These significant errors do not give me confidence that you are conducting a balanced consultation.”
Councillor Knowles has challenged Network Rail to:
- publicly correct these errors in the Northern Hub Consultation information
- give a public commitment to local as well as inter-city services on the Northern Hub network
- give a public reassurance that they are investigating in-depth all of the rail network capacity enhancements shown on the Northern Hub map.
- extend the consultation period to allow the public to comment on the corrected information
Councillor Richard Knowles
Opposition Leader, Transport for Greater Manchester Committee (TfGMC)
cllr.r.d.knowles@oldham.gov.uk
6th November 2011
And a reply from a Network Rail spokesman, courtesy of the Oldham Chronicle.
“The Northern Hub will drive economic growth for the North and could deliver 20,000 to 30,000 jobs and £4.2bn of wider economic benefits.
“It will provide the infrastructure to allow more frequent services on many suburban routes around the cities of the North. This better capability can be used to provide an improved service for commuters who will see improved journey times to city centres and more seats.
“Under current plans, services along the Huddersfield-Manchester line could take several forms, from all-station local services to semi-fast services calling at the local stations.
“Contrary to reports, no decisions have been made on which pattern is the optimum — this will be made through the franchising process and will involve consultation with local representatives through the Passenger Transport Executives.
“Network Rail are in regular discussions with representatives from the Department for Transport, Metro, Transport for Greater Manchester and Northern Rail, to establish which pattern best suits residents in the area, mindful of increasing capacity, infrastructure capability, commercial demand and improved connectivity.
“We continue to look at all enhancements included in the scope of the Northern Hub as the project develops including opening the Standedge tunnels.”
He added that the company is happy to receive feedback on an ongoing basis on the Northern Hub.
9th November 2011
