“The party’s over for Ale Trail drunks as peace returns to the Colne Valley”

Posted on July 1, 2013 by admin
  • [from the Huddersfield Daily Examiner, 1st July 2013]

THE party’s over for the rail revellers.

Drunken visitors who ruined weekends for hundreds of villagers by taking part in the Real Ale Trail have lost their battle with the authorities following a concerted crackdown.

For months if not years, residents of Slaithwaite and Marsden and elsewhere on the TransPennine trail have complained of the havoc brought to their doorsteps by the antisocial behaviour of men and women who hijacked the trail.

Their lives were made a misery by revellers on stag and hen parties, often in fancy dress, who urinated and vomited in gardens and intimidated anyone who objected.

Finally, the authorities decided to act and their tough action appears to be paying off as the message hits home.

Police began their crackdown last month, with mounted officers greeting the throngs of party-goers off the trains in Marsden while other police officers patrolled the streets.

Police also travel on the trains to maintain order and reassure passengers.

And now the revelry has virtually died down.

Pubs played their part too. The Railway in Marsden served beer in plastic glasses while the Riverhead Brewery, one of the most popular destinations on the trail, just yards away, took even more draconian steps by refusing to sell lager, cider, alcopops and shots on Saturdays.

Faced with the determination of British Transport Police, (BTP), West Yorkshire Police, Northern Rail, First TransPennine Express as well as community groups, residents and businesses, revellers appear to be finding other, more welcoming, destinations to have their fun.

On Saturday afternoon the Examiner was invited by BTP to see at first hand how the crackdown was working and the attempt to put the ‘Real Ale’ back into the trail.

There was not a single person dressed as an inflatable banana in sight and contented families with pushchairs and ice-cream had replaced the revellers.

Prior to the crackdown a single train arrival at Marsden could see more than 150 men disgorged into a huge snake as it wound its way into the village.

Inspector Richard Price of BTP said:

“The Real Ale Trail has been on our policing radar for over a year now and as well as officers regularly patrolling the route, we have been engaging with train operators and the local communities and businesses at stations which are being affected by the influx of people every weekend.

“We will not hesitate to take action against anyone who does commit a crime or behaves in a problematic manner.

“Low level antisocial behaviour, which we know occurs on the trail when people have been drinking, is undoubtedly under reported.

“Passengers tend to accept or ignore the minority who make the journeys unpleasant for everyone else.”

Royce Franklin, Saddleworth parish councillor, said:

“I am sure the original idea for the Real Ale Trail was sound and well-meaning.

“It is therefore, unfortunate, that because of the behaviour of a minority, measures are having to be taken to ensure the regular passenger feels safe.”

One Marsden resident, grateful for the crackdown, was Dorothy Lindley, who lives just yards away from the station.

The grandmother got the shock of her life in September last year when she found a drunken Ale Trail reveller in her living room.

He walked through her front door, complimented her on her home and asked her to make him a cup of tea.

Mrs Lindley, 78, said:

“I am hoping that the battle is over and it appears to be going in that direction.”

The Real Ale Trail, which runs from Manchester to Leeds via the Colne Valley, Huddersfield, Mirfield and Dewsbury began four years ago as an enjoyable day out for genuine real ale enthusiasts after a TV programme popularised the route.

But it was not long before it began to be abused by huge numbers of lager-crazed revellers, many of them in fancy dress, searching for a cheap but fun day out.

Read more: Examiner http://www.examiner.co.uk/news/local-west-yorkshire-news/2013/07/01/the-party-s-over-for-ale-trail-drunks-as-peace-returns-to-the-colne-valley-86081-33547590/#ixzz2XpD5p4MJ

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“Police call time on Real Ale Trail revellers”

Posted on July 1, 2013 by admin

[from ITV.com, Saturday 29th June 2013]

British Transport Police, West Yorkshire Police, Northern Rail and First TransPennine Express are continuing to work with local community groups, residents and businesses along the now infamous Real Ale Trail to tackle its rowdy revellers.

Over the next few months, BTP will be undertaking a number of high profile operations along the trail, which runs from Stalybridge to Batley, in partnership with train operators, to engage with the local community, support rail staff, clamp down on anti-social behaviour and raise awareness of the dangers of being heavily under the influence of alcohol on the railway.

The Real Ale Trail has been on our policing radar for over a year now and as well as officers regularly patrolling the route, we have been engaging with train operators and the local communities, residents and businesses at stations which are being affected by the influx of people every weekend.**

“The Real Ale Trail is a novel and fun experience and the vast majority of the people who follow the trail behave in a decent and respectful manner, and we would like to thank them for such. **

“However there are a few whose behaviour, whether fuelled by alcohol or not is unacceptable. While crime is not a big problem, with only a few offences recorded, anti social and dangerous behaviour of some of the revellers is. **

“This can range from people falling off platforms and running across the tracks, to inappropriate use of language, urinating on platforms and train doors being held open disrupting services.**

“Fast trains regularly run through small stations on the trail, and we are concerned someone is going to get badly injured or even killed.**

” In addition to our regular patrols, we are also going to be running a number of high profile operations over the next few months involving even more officers policing the line and engaging with those travelling on the services to highlight the dangers of their behaviour.**

“We want people to have a good time but we also want to make sure that they stay safe and treat rail staff and other passengers on these services with respect. **

“We also want them to really consider how they can be putting themselves at risk and how their behaviour may impact on others on those services and be an intimidating experience for others.**

“We will not hesitate to take action against anyone who does commit a crime or behaves in a problematic manner. In addition to being prosecuted, they can be banned from travelling on the rail network and will receive a criminal record which may affect their employment. Is it worth it for a few hours drinking?”**

– Inspector Richard Price, British Transport Police

BTP recently launched a non -emergency text service which provides passengers with an additional tool to report and capture low level, non-emergency incidents.**

Low level anti-social behaviour, which we know occurs on the trail when people have been drinking, is undoubtedly under reported. Passengers tend to accept or ignore the minority who make the journeys unpleasant for everyone else.**

“We hope that the ease of being able to send a quick text message will encourage more passengers to report incidents when they occur and would encourage anyone travelling on these services to text the number 61016 if they do have any problems or speak to an officer on-board. By building up a more accurate picture we can better focus our resources.”**

– Inspector Richard Price, British Transport Police

We implemented a crowd management plan at Marsden and Slaithwaite earlier this year to assist in managing the situation. **

“Our Rail Response Team is present to deal with a variety of incidents and prevent trespassing on the railway and we have additional control measures in place to ensure platforms are as clear as possible for passing trains. Our priority is the safety of all our customers and these measures will help to ensure this.”**

– Martyn Guiver, Head of Crime Management, Northern Rail

The safety of our customers, the communities we serve and our staff is always our number one priority.**

“Travelling by rail to to visit some beautiful locations and enjoy some real ale is a great experience. We would however encourage all on the trail to be safe, sensible and respectful of the communities they are entering.**

“We welcome the initiatives of the local pubs and communities that will help to reduce the likelihood of anti social behavior and we will take every available action to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all rail passengers and staff.**

“Working with the BTP we will not tolerate threatening, abusive is dangerous behavior on our services.”**

– Billy Vickers, Police Liaison Officer for FTPE

I am sure the original idea for what has become known as the Real Ale Trail was sound and well meaning. **

“In this technological age communication through social networking is easy and because of this the trail has been advertised country wide attracting passengers from all over England. **

“It is therefore unfortunate because of the behaviour of a minority, measures are having to be taken to ensure the regular passenger feels safe. I am pleased British Transport Police and local Police Forces are taking action to control any unwelcome behaviour.”**

– Royce Franklin, Saddleworth Parish Councillor

We are aware of concerns in communities on the Real Ale Trail regarding anti social behaviour on weekends and we are working closely with partners to address these matters. **

“West Yorkshire Police are providing additional patrols including mounted officers at key times to reassure residents and deter offending.**

“Policing alone will not fully resolve the issues and we are building on existing partnership work with colleagues from agencies such as British Transport Police, Kirklees Council and licensees to put in place various measures to allow Real Ale Trail users to enjoy the experience safely and responsibly while also ensuring communities on the trail are not blighted by frequent poor behaviour by those who might seek to abuse it.”**

– Chief Supt Tim Kingsman, Kirklees Police

http://www.itv.com/news/calendar/2013-06-29/police-call-time-on-real-ale-trail-revellers/

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Meeting with Northern Rail’s new client and stakeholder manager, Tuesday 23rd July

Posted on June 25, 2013 by admin

Don Jary, who is Northern Rail’s new Client and Stakeholder Manager (West), replacing the recently-retired Mark Barker, has agreed to attend a SHRUG (Stalybridge to Huddersfield Rail Users’ Group) meeting on 23rd July.

 

The meeting will take place at the Uppermill Civic Hall starting at 7.15 p.m  and Don will have to leave by 8.35 p.m. to catch the 8.51 p.m. train. 

 

Don is responsible for Northern Rail’s train services in Greater Manchester, Cheshire and Derbyshire including (amongst other things) the Huddersfield to Manchester Victoria train service, and the stations on the west side of the tunnel. Marsden and Slaithwaite stations are managed by Drew Haley, who is the Client and Stakeholder Manager (West & North Yorkshire).

 

As time will be limited, we will be collating a list for him to look at various points and will submit it to him a week before to enable him to maximise his presentation.    Any points whatsoever which you want to be discussed please let us know by 16th July, by e-mail to the address on the contact page on the SMART website.

 

 

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Network Rail – Regional urban market study 2013 draft for consultation

Posted on June 19, 2013 by admin

Network Rail have done their draft regional Urban Market Study, using West Yorkshire as a prototype for their new approach to developing plans for the future.

“The regional urban market study draft for consultation is one of four consultation documents produced as part of the Long Term Planning Process. Together, the London and South East, long distance passenger market studies and the freight market study will set out how passenger and freight demand is expected to change in each of these markets in Britain over the next 30 years.”

 

“In developing the market studies, the rail industry sets out a new approach to developing plans for the future. This reflects the need to gain a better understanding about how plans for the railway impact on the economy and make sure that strategic change, such as the implementation of the Northern Hub programme, the development and implementation of the electrification programme and the development of High Speed 2, can be effectively considered in rail industry planning.”

 

“The regional urban market relates primarily to travel by large numbers of people for commuting or leisure purposes in an area less than 50 miles from a regional centre and this study seeks to understand where rail can exploit its competitive advantages in best serving this market. Despite the recession commuting demand into regional centres continues to grow as a result of modal shift from road to rail. It is anticipated that this growth will continue in the future. Key deliverables of the study are the ‘conditional outputs’ for the regional urban sector in terms of frequency and journey times on key suburban corridors.”

 

“The regional urban passenger market study draft for consultation was published on 25 April 2013 with a 90 day consultation period ending on 26 July 2013. We welcome the views of interested parties on the proposals set out in the study.”

Their rather disappointing conclusion is that they don’t see a case for increasing the frequency of trains at Slaithwaite and Marsden. The methodology has some obvious flaws, and some of the figures and assertions are either dubious or just plain wrong. For example, their figures assert that the population within a 1km radius of Marsden station is nil, which might come as a surprise to the 4,000 inhabitants of the village. Obviously people who don’t exist have a fairly low propensity to travel by train! Errors such as this would clearly have the effect of undermining what we believe to be a very strong case for improving the frequency of train services at Mossley, Greenfield, Marsden and Slaithwaite.

SMART will be drafting a detailed response, setting out where we see limitations in the methodology and data and where appropriate challenging the conclusions reached regarding local train services at Slaithwaite and Marsden.

View the regional urban market study 2013 draft for consultation

It’s a draft for consultation, with a reply deadline of 26th July 2013.

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