Service on railways is getting a lot worse!

IT is with increasing annoyance, frustration and anger that we write this letter.

More than a year ago we wrote to all the relevant bodies about the awful and unacceptable Northern Rail Service from Mills Hill (north Manchester) to Manchester Victoria and were given assurances things would change. The situation has changed but for the worse!

Late and cancelled trains and trains in rush hour with just two carriages, when the platform can accommodate four carriages are regular occurences.

More recently we have experienced scheduled trains not stopping at Mills Hill and Moston.

When only two carriages arrive in rush hour we often can’t get on the train. If you are lucky enough to be able to board the train the conditions are inhuman.

People frequently pass out on the 7.50am train due to crushed bodies and very little air.

On several occasions tempers have been frayed due to the desperation of individuals wanting to board full trains and confrontations have taken place.

Late and cancelled trains lead to people being late for work and the knock on effects that brings – loss of earnings and a poor punctuality record which can lead to disciplinary action. In addition to this the extra cost involved when trains have been cancelled, railway customers have to use other forms of transport.

As an example of Northern Rail’s awful service, last week the 7.16am train from Mills Hill to Manchester Victoria was cancelled on Wednesday, October 25, and Friday October 27. The train was cancelled within a couple of minutes of the due departure time giving little chance of finding alternative modes of transport which would get us to work on time! The above is just an example of regular disruptions to this service. The disruptions are not only in the morning – but throughout the day and gradually get worse again at rush hour in the late afternoon and early evening.

We are informed by government and railway companies the rail travel is improving. We the commuters can testify on a day to day basis this is simply not true. Northern Rail’s disillusioned commuters (name and address supplied)