<\/p>\n
The new train timetable effective from 18th<\/sup> May has now been published.<\/p>\n There are major changes, made necessary by the introduction of a fifth express train between Manchester and Leeds. The new timetable contains a number of changes that SMART and SHRUG have been advocating, including reinstating the Slaithwaite stop in the 1727 from Victoria, earlier first trains of the day in both directions and a later last train from Huddersfield on Sundays, and better connections at Stalybridge in both directions.<\/p>\n It\u2019s never possible to please everybody, but overall we would judge it\u2019s an improvement on the current timetable.<\/p>\n Major changes, summarised as follows:<\/p>\n Weekdays towards Huddersfield<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2013\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 first train, through to Leeds, is at 0615 (Marsden) 0619 (Slaithwaite)rather than 0648\/0652<\/p>\n \u2013\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 daytime departures towards Huddersfield will be at xx29\/xx33 rather than xx59\/xx03<\/p>\n \u2013\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1727 from Victoria now calls at Slaithwaite<\/p>\n \u2013\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Most daytime trains run through from Blackpool North, some trains in the evening peak run through from Southport & Wigan<\/p>\n Saturdays towards Huddersfield <\/strong><\/p>\n \u2013\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 First train to Huddersfield is earlier<\/p>\n \u2013\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 daytime departures towards Huddersfield will be at xx29\/xx33 rather than xx59\/xx03<\/p>\n \u2013\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Most daytime trains run through from Blackpool North, some trains in the evening peak run through from Southport & Wigan<\/p>\n Sundays towards Huddersfield<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2013\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 first train to Huddersfield is 22\u2019 earlier<\/p>\n \u2013\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 daytime departures towards Huddersfield will be at xx45\/xx49 rather than xx15\/xx19<\/p>\n Weekdays towards Victoria<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2013\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 earlier first train to Victoria<\/p>\n \u2013\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 daytime departures towards Victoria will be at xx22 (Slaithwaite) xx29 (Marsden) rather than xx37\/xx43<\/p>\n \u2013\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Most daytime trains run through to Wigan & some to Southport<\/p>\n Saturdays towards Victoria<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2013\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 earlier first train to Manchester, arrives Victoria at 0804 rather than 0831<\/p>\n \u2013\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 daytime departures towards Victoria will be at xx22\/xx29 rather than xx37\/xx43 \u2013\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Most daytime trains run through to Wigan<\/p>\n Sundays towards Victoria<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2013\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 earlier first train<\/p>\n \u2013\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 daytime departures towards Victoria will be at xx22\/xx27 rather than xx43\/ xx50 \u2013\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 later last train<\/p>\n General<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2013\u00a0better connections at Stalybridge to\/from Piccadilly, in both directions except after 7pm coming from Piccadilly<\/p>\n \u2013\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 one fewer train on Saturday. The one which has been withdrawn is a mid-evening train which goes from Huddersfield to Marsden & back<\/p>\n \u2013\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 one additional train on Sundays<\/p>\n Because of a technical problem which we have hitherto been unable to resolve, we are unable to attach the new timetable as a pdf document.<\/p>\n The major downside to the timetable is that it leaves a hour gap in the\u00a0morning peak, between 0710 & 0808 (Huddersfield arrival times). Currently the gap is between 0741 & 0824 (Huddersfield arrival times). Northern Rail’s timetable planners had limited scope to change this, with their trains having to be fitted in between the expresses.<\/p>\n A train arriving Huddersfield at 0738 calls at Mossley & Greenfield, one arriving at 0808 calls at Marsden & Slaithwaite. The choice available was to swap calls on these\u00a0two trains. The option chosen is probably better for people travelling to Huddersfield, the\u00a0other option would have been better for people travelling to Leeds.<\/p>\n It highlights the need to deliver additional capacity through electrification and the Northern Hub, but then to make sure that additional capacity is used to benefit local passengers, not just passengers between Leeds and Manchester.<\/p>\n Trains times have\u00a0now been published on the websites of Northern Rail and Metro<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The new train timetable effective from 18th May has now been published. There are major changes, made necessary by the introduction of a fifth express train between Manchester and Leeds. The new timetable contains a number of changes that … Continue reading