Criticism over botched changes to rail timetable

RAIL bosses, the Government and regulators have all been slammed for the botched attempt to introduce the biggest timetable change in a generation.

An inquiry by the Office for Rail and Road (ORR) has concluded that no-one took charge of the huge project, that left Northern and TransPennine rail services in complete disarray.

But while Northern has been criticised, rail campaigners from Slaithwaite & Marsden Action on Rail Transport (SMART) have said they are “astonished” that TransPennine Express (TPE) – which had taken over the majority of services in Kirklees – has been let off the hook.

The report into the crisis, which also occurred in the south east and north west of England, found a serious gap in industry responsibility and accountability for managing risk.

Northern, which was cancelling more than 310 trains a day for several weeks in May and June, was also singled out for not being properly aware of, or prepared for the problems in delivering the timetable.

The ORR investigation also slates Northern for failing to do enough to provide accurate information to passengers when disruption occurred.

The Department for Transport and the ORR itself have also been criticised for a lack of oversight, with the report finding there was insufficient questioning of assurances they received from the industry about the risk of disruption.

The findings come after Transport Secretary Chris Grayling claimed he “did not run the railways” during the peak of the crisis earlier this year.

The government has now announced a “root and branch” review of Britain’s railways.

Commenting on the ORR report, David Hagerty, treasurer of SMART, said: “We’re astonished the report makes no mention of TransPennine Express in the debacle.

“It’s a bit like Murder on the Orient Express – they all did it – except that this particular Orient Express keeps being terminated at Stalybridge.

“In just 17 weeks since the timetable change we have seen over 600 cancellations and part-cancellations, almost all of TPE services, at Slaithwaite and Marsden.

“Late trains are so commonplace as to pass without comment.

“While passengers elsewhere in the region have seen their services stabilised, we have seen no improvement.

“TPEs way of dealing with disruption has the effect of making things worse for passengers at Colne Valley stations.

“TPE continue to routinely terminate Manchester-bound trains at Stalybridge, leaving passengers to work out for themselves how to complete their journeys.

“The level of disruption continues to be unacceptable, and there is nothing in the ORR report to suggest that is likely to change in the near future.”

Chairman of SMART, Clr Rob Walker, added: “The culture of trying to shift blame comes from the very top of the industry.

“Chris Grayling must accept ultimate responsibility. The current structure is not fit for purpose.”