SMART

At long last the Colne Valley has the opportunity to have a half-hourly train service at Marsden and Slaithwaite stations but it needs community support to make it happen.

For over ten years Slaithwaite & Marsden Action on Rail Transport (SMART) has been campaigning for an all-day half-hourly service at Marsden and Slaithwaite. Although there has recently been a big improvement in the rolling stock the frequency of trains has remained at just one per hour outside of the morning and evening weekday peak periods.

On January 14^th.  the Department for Transport published the “Manchester Recovery Task Force Consultation” which aims to undo much of the chaos caused by the disastrous May 2018 timetable change that so badly affected our local train services and those across the whole of the North of England.

The consultation paper presents three options A, B & C. Option-A is likely to produce the least increase in punctuality and resilience across the rail network and Option-C is projected to produce the greatest increase in punctuality and resilience across the rail network. Option-C also produces the greater benefits to more of the stations on routes radiating from Manchester, including Marsden and Slaithwaite, than the other two options.

Option-C would give Slaithwaite & Marsden a half-hourly service throughout the day to Manchester and Huddersfield and an hourly train to Leeds. This would be achieved by having the current Manchester to Hull train stopping at Slaithwaite & Marsden throughout the day.

Councillor Rob Walker, Chair of SMART, said:

“As we hopefully emerge from the  Covid pandemic we do not want to see even worse traffic congestion in our villages and towns.  We want to encourage people to use train services again.  SMART believe that a half-hourly service is vital in convincing people that rail travel is the best option.  At the moment if you narrowly miss a train it can be nearly an hour’s wait. We at last have excellent trains with plenty of seats; all we need now are regular and reliable services.

With business developments like the Globe Mill in Slaithwaite, and the growth in leisure visitors to the Colne Valley, we want to see more people travelling by train into our area as well as commuting from it to work.”

The full 35 page report that contains all the consultation questions can be read here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/951401/manchester-recovery-task-force-public-consultation.pdf

Consultation responses should be sent to performancerecoverytaskforce@dft.gov.uk by March 10^th at the latest.

The following is a summary of the SMART response to the Manchester Recovery Taskforce consultation published on 14 January 2021

The consultation aims to simplify train service patterns around Manchester in order to improve reliability. It is based on using the existing infrastructure, and accordingly can be implemented in advance of the Transpennine Route Upgrade or any other infrastructure projects. The proposal is to implement the outcome of the consultation with effect from May 2022.

Of the three options, B & C would deliver at Slaithwaite and Marsden a half-hourly service throughout the day.

SMART’s Answers to the Questions posed by the consultation document

Question 1: Do you support the aim of standardising and simplifying service patterns if this will significantly improve overall train performance?

Yes.

SMART supports the aim of standardising and simplifying service patterns in the basis that this should significantly improve overall train performance.  By some measures, during the period of the May 2018 timetable Slaithwaite station experienced the worst record, in terms of delays and cancellations, on the entire UK rail network, so passengers using these stations are more aware than most of the impact of poor train performance.

Question 2: Do you support the approach of measuring the service level and performance impacts across all passengers to allow fair trade-offs between options?

Yes

SMART supports the approach of measuring the service level and performance impacts across all passengers to allow fair trade-offs between options.  Given the capacity constraints on the current infrastructure between Stalybridge and Huddersfield, SMART considers that local services should take priority over aspirations to increase the frequency of longer distance services.  SMART’s view is that local services carry more passengers and provide the greatest facility for access to jobs, education, facilities and services, thus stimulating the local economy and providing the greatest benefit to both the local and regional economy.  These local rail services also provide a sustainable transport alternative that help to promote sustainable development.

Question 3: On the basis of these results, which is your preferred option?

Option C will deliver a half-hourly service at Slaithwaite and Marsden stations and is stated in the consultation document as delivering the best outcome in terms of reliability and punctuality, so this is our preferred option. The passenger figures produced by the ORR for Slaithwaite, Marsden and the neighbouring stations of Greenfield and Mossley provide ample justification for an improvement in service frequency to half-hourly.

Whilst Option B will also deliver a half-hourly service at Slaithwaite and Marsden stations, it is not expected to deliver the same level of punctuality and reliability.

Question 4: Please provide your views on the details of the proposed changes which are detailed by route in the Appendix.

SMART has only commented on services between Huddersfield and Manchester that serve the local stations of Mossley, Greenfield, Marsden and Slaithwaite.  

Option A involves limited changes and compared to the other options does little to improve train performance. It does not deliver any improvements for passengers at Slaithwaite and Marsden.

Options B & C deliver a half hourly service at Slaithwaite and Marsden throughout the day.

SMART’s preferred option for the service pattern for the Huddersfield to Manchester (via TransPennine Main Line) is as set out in Option C.

Provision of a half-hourly train service throughout the day at Slaithwaite and Marsden will bring the following benefits

• Providing fast, reliable, frequent and attractive public transport links between where people live and where there are jobs will help increase the job opportunities available to Slaithwaite and Marsden residents looking for work.

• For businesses based in Slaithwaite and Marsden, it will help them get the right person into the right job by giving them a wider choice of candidates for vacancies.

• Both Slaithwaite and Marsden have over recent years become visitor destinations, with an increasing number of hospitality sector businesses becoming established. A more frequent train service will enable more visitors to come to the villages and support local businesses without being dependent on car travel to do so. This will be particularly important as the economy recovers from the Covid pandemic.

• The Globe Mills development in Slaithwaite is a large scale redevelopment of two disused mill buildings, being carried out as a collaboration between Hartley Property Group, 3M, Huddersfield University and Kirklees Council. It will provide employment space, an innovation centre for start-up and expanding businesses particularly in the technology sector. It is anticipated to create hundreds of jobs and boost the local economy. This objective will be greatly assisted by providing a more frequent train service.

• The Peak District National Park Authority is looking at creating gateway hubs at locations that border the Peak District National Park from which visitors are able to access recreation hubs and other visitor attractions. Gateway Hubs may be market towns or large tourist sites which provide access into the National Park by public transport, walking or cycling. The initial proposals identify Marsden as a potential gateway hub. Provision of a more frequent train service will enable Marsden to fulfil this function more effectively.

• Significantly reduce the Generalised Journey Time (taking account of the time spent waiting for a train) between Leeds/Huddersfield/Manchester and Slaithwaite/Marsden, thereby making the train a more viable alternative to car transport

• Making the train a viable alternative to the car so helping to improve air quality and help meet the government’s carbon reduction targets.

• Reduce road congestion in Slaithwaite and Marsden by promoting modal shift to public transport