{"id":9,"date":"2009-05-23T12:33:03","date_gmt":"2009-05-23T11:33:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/smart-rail.co.uk\/?page_id=9"},"modified":"2026-05-08T15:16:07","modified_gmt":"2026-05-08T14:16:07","slug":"campaign-issues","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.smart-rail.co.uk\/?page_id=9","title":{"rendered":"Campaign Issues"},"content":{"rendered":"

Some of the issues that SMART continues to campaign on are<\/em><\/h2>\n
    \n
  1. A punctual and reliable train service<\/em><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    This is a busy two-track railway, carrying a mix of express passenger and stopping trains, plus occasionally freight. it’s challenging to maintain punctuality and reliability, and too often it is the infrequent local stopping service (or, to be more precise, passengers on the local stopping service) that suffers disproportionately when disruption occurs<\/p>\n

    2. Giving us decent information when trains are cancelled<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

    It\u2019s bad enough when a train is cancelled, even worse when there is no information or it is actually incorrect.<\/span><\/p>\n

    3. Safety and Disabled Access at Slaithwaite and Marsden stations<\/span><\/em><\/span>
    \nAt Marsden platforms 1 and 2 are inaccessible for wheelchair users and people with prams whilst at Slaithwaite the cobbled ramp to platform 1 means that the station is only fully accessible if the passenger is being dropped off and collected by car. The proposed Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) was supposed to provide full step-free access at all stations along the route, but in September 2019 it was revealed that step-free access had been deleted from TRU to save money. In May 2022 it was finally been confirmed that both stations will be made fully accessible, with Marsden station having a new footbridge with lifts. Slaithwaite station will also be rebuilt with a new footbridge with lifts.<\/span><\/p>\n

    4. Vandalism at Slaithwaite station<\/span><\/span><\/em>
    \nThis seems to have been\u00a0improved, partly due to the efforts of Friends of Slaithwaite station\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    5. Improvement to the train service<\/span>,<\/em><\/p>\n

    in the shape of<\/p>\n