Someone else isn’t happy about the timetable changes from May 2018.<\/p>\n
Hull Chamber of Commerce are unhappy about the extended journey time between Manchester and Hull which will result from stopping it at ten intermediate stations instead of the current four. They don’t appear to be quite right about the detail, as in the current timetable it makes six, not four, stops between Manchester and Hull. The additional stations include Slaithwaite & Mossley, so that’s where we fit into it. Another way in which the silly obsession with a 15 minute clockface timetable for fast trains between Manchester, Leeds & York is compromising the interests of other passengers.<\/p>\n
[article from the Hull Daily Mail, 14th<\/span>\u00a0February 2018, follows]<\/p>\n \u201cPlans to downgrade Hull to Manchester rail service will undermine city, say business leaders\u201d<\/p>\n Hull and Humber Chamber of Commerce has criticised Transpennine Express’ plans to change its Hull to Manchester service<\/p>\n Business leaders in Hull are calling for Transpennine Express to explain the decision to downgrade its Hull to Manchester services.<\/p>\n Transpennine Express proposed changes last year to add an extra six stops onto its Hull to Manchester\u00a0rail service, planned for May 2018.<\/p>\n The Hull and Humber Chamber of Commerce is now calling on Leo Goodwin, managing director of the rail service provider to meet with them, Hull MPs, council representatives and rail consultants about the concerns.<\/p>\n In a letter handed to Mr Goodwin on Wednesday, Chamber chief executive Ian Kelly said the downgraded service would \u201cundermine\u201d the tourism and business growth Hull has seen because of\u00a0City of Culture.<\/p>\n Concerns about the proposal to increase the number of stop on the Hull – Leeds \u2013 Manchester route from four to 10 [Editor’s note: actually increase from six to 10] were raised by the business organisation during the consultation process last summer.<\/p>\n The Chamber says it believes the changes will have a negative effect on the economy and connectivity in the \u201cenergy estuary\u201d.<\/p>\n Transpennine Express says that the changes will only increase journey times by two minutes, but the Chamber disputes this.<\/p>\n The train company has planned route improvements in other areas of the North, with both Newcastle and Scarborough set to see faster services from May.<\/p>\n The Chamber says that proposals counter\u00a0Transport for the North\u2019s states aims to create a corridor of power between Liverpool and Hull, and says it will lobby the Department for Transport with regional MPs.<\/p>\n Hull and Humber Chief Executive, Dr Ian Kelly, said in the letter:<\/p>\n \u201cWe made representations through the consultation process in conjunction with\u00a0Hull City Council, and also wrote to you directly expressing our concerns relating to the possible effects on businesses, so we are disappointed to see these changes are still planned to be implemented in May.<\/p>\n \u201cThe proposals set out by TransPennine Express worsen, not improve the current service, adding an average of six minutes to journey times, and feel this is unacceptable at a time when rail links between the largest cities in the Northern Powerhouse of the country should be improved, and not downgraded.<\/p>\n \u201cHull\u2019s year as UK City of Culture fuelled a boost in both tourism and business travel, we feel strongly that nothing should happen which could not therefore undermine this growth which is vital for Hull\u2019s continuing renaissance as a destination city.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Chamber is particularly disappointed at the proposal to increase the number of stops on the Hull to Manchester service to ten intermediate stations as this represents a significant downgrading of our rail connectivity and efficiency.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n A spokeswoman for Transpennine Express said:<\/p>\n \u201cThe Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce have sadly been wrongly advised on this matter.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have offered to meet with them on several occasions over the past year to inform them on the improvements proposed but have received no response. We would like to reiterate that we are still open to discussions on this matter.<\/p>\n \u201cThe timetable developments in May 2018 are currently being finalised but our plan will enhance connectivity to and from Hull.<\/p>\n \u201cStopping at additional stations in West Yorkshire will enable the capacity of the route to become more reliable. We know that the vast majority of customers travel from Hull to Leeds and this journey time will not be affected. Our customers travelling to and from Manchester will see an increase of around only a few minutes.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are currently delivering a significant investment to improve Hull\u2019s rail services, including a \u00a332million upgrade of our trains with free Wi-Fi in Standard and First Class and an on-board entertainment system.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have already introduced additional late-night services from Hull towards Leeds and Manchester and delivered a\u00a0significant improvement at Hull Paragon station including new toilets, waiting rooms, retail units\u00a0and a new customer information centre.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n https:\/\/www.hulldailymail.co.uk\/news\/business\/plans-downgrade-hull-manchester-rail-1213022<\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.hull-humber-chamber.co.uk\/articles\/taking-the-express-out-of-transpennine-rail-as-journey-times-increase-from-may<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Someone else isn’t happy about the timetable changes from May 2018. Hull Chamber of Commerce are unhappy about the extended journey time between Manchester and Hull which will result from stopping it at ten intermediate stations instead of the current … Continue reading