Letter from Metro dated 19th April.<\/p>\n
\u201cNorthern are currently developing detailed plans for the Stalybridge blockade with Metro, Transport for Greater Manchester and Merseytravel.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThere 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 \u2013 Huddersfield services. We will work closely with Northern and Network Rail to ensure we get the best possible arrangements.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
E-mail from\u00a0Metro to a rail users’ group on the Calder Valley route, dated 3rd<\/sup> May\u00a0<\/p>\n
Forget the current timetable as BOTH routes will be recast loosely this:
\nFTPE
\nHull – Leeds – Huddersfield
\nScarborough – York – Huddersfield
\nMiddlesbrough – York – Leeds – Manchester Vic
\nNewcastle – York – Leeds – Manchester Victoria – Newton – Liverpool<\/p>\nThe latter two will pick up calls at Hebden Bridge, Todmorden and Rochdale in light of alterations to Northerns services as folllows<\/p>\n
Leeds – Dewsbury \u2013 Hebden Bridge – Man Vic > CURTAILED at Hebden Bridge
\nLeeds – Bradford \u2013 Hebden Bridge – Man Vic > SERVICES altered to operate in the opposite half-hour to present
\nSelby – Bradford -Huddersfield – Wakefield > operate separate to CV as independent service I.e. Not from Man Vic
\nBlackpools – as is but minor changes.<\/p>\nBuses<\/strong>
\nHuddersfield – Stockport – Airport (express)
\nHuddersfield – Stalybridge – Ashton – Guide Bridge (local)<\/strong><\/p>\n\u00a0West Yorkshire to Manchester Airport to travel to Huddersfield and express bus to Manchester Airport via Stockport.<\/p>\n
\u00a0Planning Teams are still working out the plans and FTPE will be leading a very comprehensive customer communications exercise for both routes.<\/p>\n
\u00a0Hope this helps – more will be available late August.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
What this looks like to\u00a0us is that our suggestion of running a shuttle between Huddersfield and Marsden during the week-long blockade in October was never seriously considered.<\/p>\n
The suggestion that there might be insufficient trains and traincrew to run trains between Huddersfield and Marsden because of “trade-offs …….. between resourcing Calder Valley services and Marsden \u2013 Huddersfield services” when there will be fewer<\/strong> trains running along the Calder Valley route makes no sense.<\/p>\n
It looks like the difficulty is not one of resources or logistics, but rather one of motivation.\u00a0<\/p>\n
We do not accept that what is proposed represents “the best possible arrangements”.<\/p>\n
Put simply, there is no valid reason why trains could not run between Huddersfield and Marsden during October half-term (the blockage, remember, is at Stalybridge). If Metro were to ask for this, we are quite sure Northern Rail would be willing and able to oblige.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Letter from Metro dated 19th April. \u201cNorthern are currently developing detailed plans for the Stalybridge blockade with Metro, Transport for Greater Manchester and Merseytravel.\u201d \u201cThere are some significant challenges in making the best use of the rail resources to cater … Continue reading