Replacement bus services, Sundays from 16th September

Posted on September 12, 2012 by admin

There will be no Sunday trains at Slaithwaite and Marsden from 16th September. There are posters on the stations giving this information, but if you’ve gone down to either Marsden or Slaithwaite stations, then you’re already in the wrong place to catch the replacement bus. The information is available, via Metro or Northern Rail’s timetables, but not particularly easy to find and rather vague as to where the replacement buses call.

Why?

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.

When?

There will be no Sunday trains from 16th September to 3rd December. [Actually that’s not quite true, there might be one mid-evening train from Huddersfield to Marsden and back, shown in Metro’s timetable but not in Northern Rail’s timetable.]

During October half term from Saturday 27th October to Sunday 4th November 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. SMART requested that during that week, trains should continue to run from Huddersfield to Marsden and back. Local councillors and, so we understand, our MP, have made this same request of Northern Rail and Metro.

Current plans (as at 11th September) do not include a Huddersfield to Marsden train service even though we are firmly of the opinion that there are no insurmountable operational reasons why this could not be done. Hopefully it is not too late for Northern Rail to have a change of heart and come up with a timetable which involves running trains up to Marsden during that week.

Replacement bus services

Where from?

According to the timetables published by Metro, buses will call at Marsden “town centre” and Slaithwaite “town centre”. Northern Rail corrected their timetable to state that the buses call on A62 Manchester Road, but Metro didn’t.

If you were to assume, as well you might, that Marsden town centre meant somewhere near the Mechanics Hall, you’d be wrong. Actually the replacement buses will call on Manchester Road, next to the New Inn.

§        Services towards Manchester use bus stop 45019367, opposite the New Inn.

§        Services towards Huddersfield use bus stop 45015146, outside the New Inn.

Likewise, if you were to assume that Slaithwaite town centre means somewhere near either the circular car park, the roundabout or the library, you’d be wrong again. Actually the rail replacement buses will call at the bus stops outside the Star Hotel on Manchester Road.

§        Services towards Manchester use bus stop 45028140, opposite the Star Inn

§        Services towards Huddersfield use bus stop 45019392, outside the Star Inn.

At all other intermediate stations – Greenfield, Mossley, Stalybridge, Ashton – the replacement bus calls on the station forecourt.

Having discovered where the replacement bus calls, when?

  Bus Bus Bus Bus Bus Bus Bus Bus Bus Bus Bus Bus Bus Train Bus
Huddersfield 0910 1010 1110 1210 1310 1410 1510 1610 1710 1810 1910 2010 2110 2119 2210
Slaithwaite 0926 1026 1126 1226 1326 1426 1526 1626 1726 1826 1926 2026 2126 2126 2226
Marsden 0931 1031 1131 1231 1331 1431 1531 1631 1731 1831 1931 2031 2131 2133 2231
Manchester Victoria 1038 1138 1238 1338 1438 1538 1638 1738 1838 1938 2038 2138 2238   2338

 

  Bus Bus Bus Bus Bus Bus Bus Bus Bus Bus Bus Bus Train Bus
Manchester Victoria 0817 0917 1043 1143 1243 1343 1443 1543 1643 1743 1843 1943   2119
Marsden 0924 1024 1150 1250 1350 1450 1550 1650 1750 1850 1950 2050 2147 2150
Slaithwaite 0931 1031 1155 1255 1355 1455 1555 1655 1755 1855 1955 2055 2151 2155
Huddersfield 0945 1045 1211 1311 1411 1511 1611 1711 1811 1911 2011 2111 2157 2211

 

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Second meeting of campaign group which wants a new station in Golcar

Posted on September 4, 2012 by admin

 

 

[from the Huddersfield Daily Examiner, 3rd September 2012]

A CAMPAIGN for a new railway station in the Colne Valley has moved to a second village.

Golcar Longwood and Milnsbridge Transport Campaign (GLAM TRaC) was set up in June to push for a new station on the Huddersfield to Manchester Victoria Line.

Sixteen people attended a meeting about the campaign at Temujin restaurant in Milnsbridge on Thursday night.

Clr Paul Salveson, who helped set up GLAM TRaC, said: “The group has established itself as a good, sound organisation. Discussion centred on opportunities for the proposed new station for Golcar/Milnsbridge opened up by electrification and re-signalling of the line.

GLAM TRaC, which wants to set up a new station at the Old Railway Goods Yard off Scar Lane in Milnsbridge, held its first meeting at Golcar British Legion in June. The group will finalise its constitution at its next full meeting on September 25, when it is hoped Metro chairman Clr James Lewis will attend.

For more information on GLAM TRaC call Clr Salveson on 07795 008 691.

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“Huddersfield train users face massive disruption as £20m rail revamp set to start”

Posted on September 3, 2012 by admin

 

 

[from the Huddersfield Daily Examiner 3rd September 2012]

A MASSIVE upgrade to the rail network will disrupt 270,000 passenger journeys across the Pennines next month.

Rail operators First Transpennine Express are suspending their services from Huddersfield to Manchester Piccadilly for nine days to allow for Network Rail’s £20m improvements at Stalybridge.

The works will affect 30,000 passengers a day as Stalybridge forms part of one of the main rail routes across the Pennines.

There will be no trains between Huddersfield and Manchester, with thousands of passengers having to catch the bus instead.

The affected route – which takes in Slaithwaite and Marsden villages – will effectively cut off the vital rail link to Huddersfield for the duration of the works.

The services will be affected as follows:

No direct trains will be running from Huddersfield and Manchester Piccadilly between October 24 and November 4.

Trains will run from Brighouse and Dewsbury to Manchester Victoria via Hebden Bridge.

A replacement bus service will operate between Huddersfield and Manchester Piccadilly for the duration of the works.

A replacement coach service will operate between Manchester Airport and Huddersfield (two per hour).

First TransPennine Express say the extensive work, which will include two new platforms, CCTV upgrade and track and signalling works at Stalybridge is vital to ensure the future of the line.

Chris Nutton, First TransPennine Express Programme Director said:

“The upcoming Network Rail engineering works at Stalybridge will constitute a £20m investment in railway infrastructure that will path the way for quicker and more reliable journeys to and from Huddersfield and West Yorkshire. Two new platforms will be built and the number of trains running will be increased offering more seats for customers in the future.

“Unfortunately there is no other way to achieve these substantial improvements other than closing the railway in and around Stalybridge for a short period of time, towards the end of October.

“We would like to apologise to customers for the upcoming disruption but assure them that we will do everything in our power to ensure they complete their journeys in as stress free manner as possible.”

But the alternative travel arrangements have come under criticism from rail-users who have seen price hikes year-on-year.

Marsh resident Neil Salmon commutes from Huddersfield to Manchester every weekday.

He said: “I renewed my season ticket at the end of the year to avoid a price hike.

“I still pay more than £2,000 and next year it will go up again.

“The improvement work for October, although important, is going to increase journey times and inconvenience passengers when we are being asked to pay more for the service.”

Mr Nutton confirmed season ticket holders would not be compensated for the disruption despite inevitable increased journey times.

And Slaithwaite and Marsden Action on Rail Transport (SMART) have condemned Northern Rail for suspending their service for nine days on the unaffected section of the line.

Tony Bowers, Chair of SMART, said: “There is no practical reason why Northern Rail cannot run a shuttle train service between Huddersfield and Marsden during the week of the Stalybridge blockade.

“We believe that it will be complete chaos, and passengers at Slaithwaite and Marsden will be unnecessarily inconvenienced.”

Drew Haley, stakeholder manager at Northern Rail, said:

“The plan for the blockade involves a complete rescheduling of both Northern and TransPennine Express services over the Leeds to Manchester lines.

“We have worked closely with local stakeholders, Passenger Transport Executives for both areas, TransPennine Express and Network Rail to produce the best possible replacement services during this upgrade.

“Running a rail shuttle service to Huddersfield from Marsden is simply not possible to fully resource while at the same time, providing robust enough cover on other busier routes we service.

“We have provided a bus service to connect these towns into the train service in order to reduce the impact on our customers. This service will also be supplemented by buses outside the peaks directly into Manchester.

“We understand our customers will be inconvenienced by the forthcoming works and would like to apologise to those who will experience disruption.”

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“Calling time on the ale train louts”

Posted on August 23, 2012 by admin

(from the Huddersfield Daily Examiner, August 23rd 2012)

CALL it a victim of its own success or a sign of the times.

Either way, an idea designed to promote real ale pubs and to support hard pressed licensees has backfired on some of the quiet villages the real ale route was intended to benefit.

Business is booming along the train route that stops at real ale pubs in Huddersfield, Dewsbury, Slaithwaite and Marsden. But with that success has come a whole load of problems.

And it is the villagers of the Colne Valley who are bearing the fall-out from big groups of drinkers, often stag, hen and birthday parties, who some say have hijacked the trail.

While many enjoy themselves and behave reasonably, others undoubtedly don’t. And as usual, it is that minority who are hitting the headlines.

The list of anti-social behaviour contains the usual complaints where drink is involved. Rowdiness, littering, urinating in the street and gardens, often in broad daylight.

Discussions have been held on how to deal with those unable to drink and behave at the same time. But with a Bank Holiday weekend approaching, it is little wonder that many are concerned.

There appears to be little yet in the way of a real plan on how to deal with behaviour that has grown beyond the nuisance level and is becoming a real blight.

Problems should be reported and if they continue unchecked, resources will surely have to be found to prevent the kind of behaviour villagers should not have to deal with. It’s time to call time on the louts.

Posted in Marsden, Real Ale Trail, Slaithwaite | Tagged , , | Leave a comment