Passenger survey by TfGM and Metro

Posted on May 1, 2012 by admin

A reminder that the deadline for completing TfGM’s passenger survey is this coming Friday, 4th May.

Paper copies of the survey were handed out on the trains on a Sunday before Easter, on Saturday 28th April and on Tuesday 1st May. However, if you did not travel on the trains on any of those days you may still complete the survey on-line.

There is a comments box at the end (question 17 in the on-line version) where TfGM state that they would welcome your general views on the proposed changes to this service. Some points which you may wish to make in the comments box at the end:

  • It is important to maintain connectivity between all four stations – Slaithwaite, Marsden, Greenfield and Mossley.
  • The “tunnel tax” fare between Slaithwaite/Marsden and Greenfield/Mossley depresses usage between intermediate stations. More people would use the train if there was a sensible fare structure. This should result in fewer people driving across the boundary to catch the train, a practice which creates parking problems at both Greenfield and Marsden.
  • There should be an increase in the frequency to half-hourly calling at all stations. Most routes in Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire have a half-hourly or better frequency, and we should have the same.
  • The Northern Hub proposals should be implemented in full.
  • Additional express trains are welcomed, but should not be at the expense of any deterioration in the local service.
Posted in Campaigning, Marsden, METRO/WYCA, New rail services, Northern Hub, Rail Strategy, Slaithwaite, TfGM | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Line closure at October half-term

Posted on May 1, 2012 by admin

The Huddersfield – Stalybridge line is to be closed during October half term for engineering works in Stalybridge (in addition to the closure on most Sundays between now and December).

Response from Metro to a request from SMART for the rail service to run between Marsden to Huddersfield as a shuttle instead of a rail replacement bus, as follows:

“Northern are currently developing detailed plans for the Stalybridge blockade with Metro, Transport for Greater Manchester and Merseytravel.”

“There are some significant challenges in making the best use of the rail resources to cater for passenger flows during this week. There are likely to be some trade-offs involved, for instance between resourcing Calder Valley services and Marsden – Huddersfield services. We will work closely with Northern and Network Rail to ensure we get the best possible arrangements.”

Posted in Marsden, METRO/WYCA, October 2012 closure, Slaithwaite | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

More passengers using Slaithwaite and Marsden stations

Posted on April 3, 2012 by admin

The Office of Rail Regulation released 2010-11 station data on 29th March.

These are the figures for station usage from 2002/03 to 2010/11.

All these figures exclude the element, or part of the element, of travel using Metro cards: we are told by Metro that we should add 25% to these figures in West Yorkshire to get the actual absolute figures.

Posted in Marsden, Slaithwaite | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Replacement bus services, Sundays from 1st April

Posted on March 28, 2012 by admin

There will be no Sunday trains at Slaithwaite and Marsden from 1st April. 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 1st April to 24th June and again from 16th September to 3rd 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. SMART has requested that during that week, trains should continue to run from Huddersfield to Marsden and back.

Replacement bus services

Where from?

According to the timetables published by Metro and by Northern Rail, buses will call at Marsden “town centre” and Slaithwaite “town centre”.

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

One thing which is worthy of note is how much slower the bus is than the train. The train can get from Victoria to Marsden in 32 minutes. The replacement bus takes 67 minutes. Another reason why our local train service is so valuable.

Posted in Marsden, Northern Rail, October 2012 closure, services, Slaithwaite | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments