Anger as Pacers keep on running
POLITICIANS have lashed out at rail operator Northern, amid news the outdated Pacer trains are not being axed as planned.
Leader of Leeds City Council, Clr Judith Blake, Mayor of Sheffield City Region, Dan Jarvis, and Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, have written an open letter to Northern boss David Brown describing plans to continue using Pacer trains beyond this year as “extremely concerning” and “unacceptable.”
They have urged the company to compensate passengers by reducing fares on routes that are regularly served by the outdated trains, which are 1980s bus chassis with train wheels on.
The crumbling rolling stock was said to have a 20-year lifespan when they were introduced as a stop-gap in the 1980s.
But 40 years on, and after repeated promises to remove them from use, their retirement has been delayed again.
Northern has said it can’t withdraw them by the end of the year as the replacement rolling stock is not ready.
“The retention of Pacers beyond 2019 is unacceptable,” states the letter.
“It underlines the widening disparity between transport investment in the North, compared to the South. However, the alternative of withdrawing the Pacers without any alternative replacements, would be an even worse outcome.
“As we are forced into accepting the temporary retention of Pacers, we expect you to commit, as a matter of urgency, to appropriate financial compensation to the passengers affected.
“As previously suggested, a reduction in fares on the affected routes, throughout the period of Pacer retention, is the very least that could be done.
“Our primary concern remains the best interests of all our residents, and your passengers, who deserve a reliable, daily rail service.
“We therefore insist on urgent assurances regarding the support and assistance that will be provided to those with accessibility requirements, whilst the Pacer units remain in use.”
Responding to the criticism, a Northern spokesman said the majority of Pacer trains are “still planned to be removed by the end of this year” but “a small number” will be retained until next year. They said: “As a result of further delays in the construction and delivery of our new trains from manufacturer CAF, a small number of Pacers units will need to be retained for a short period of time in 2020.
“We understand that customers will be disappointed and we are finalising proposals for customer support and offers for customers on those routes on which Pacers will be used in 2020.”
He added: “We agree the North deserves the best possible rail service and are working hard to improve performance and reliability for customers.”