Trains could miss out small stations to ease pressure
TRAINS running from Manchester may no longer call at smaller stations, or stops could be hidden from the timetable to reduce overcrowding.
The Department for Transport (DfT) suggested cutting the number of stops on Cross Country passenger services, including those which run on Manchester routes.
It said the aim would be to reduce future overcrowding suffered by passengers on long-distance journeys – by deliberately cutting the number of people using the train for shorter journeys.
Trains would stop at large conurbations but miss out smaller stations nearby, either permanently or at peak times.
The proposal is one of a number of ideas in a public consultation about the future of the Cross Country Passenger Rail Franchise, run by Arriva and up for renewal in 2019.
Two of the main routes run by the operator include Manchester to Bristol and Manchester to Bournemouth, both of which also call at Macclesfield and Stockport.
The DfT document, signed off by Transport Secretary Chris Grayling, suggests cutting overcrowding by ‘reducing the number of short distance passengers, where there are suitable alternatives.’
It asks passengers whether they would support ‘removing calls from towns closest to the conurbation centre either completely or just at peak times.’
However, it warns: “Although this might speed-up journeys, the problem is that many of the towns also have passengers wanting to use the Cross Country network for longer distance journeys who would then be inconvenienced.”
Another option is to call at smaller stations but to avoid including the stops in timetables, so that passengers don’t get on.
The document suggests: “Continuing to call at such stations, but allowing the operator to restrict calls to ‘set down’ or ‘pick up’ only. In that way, a train heading away from a major city in the afternoon would not be advertised as calling at the next town but would do so only to set down passengers.”
It also considers the down side that: “At most stations, however, it is difficult to prevent passengers knowing about such calls and boarding anyway, and therefore difficult to enforce.”
A third suggested option involves ‘removing the validity of local multi-modal tickets on Cross Country trains (either generally or just at peak times in the peak direction).’
It would mean tickets which allow people to travel by any available route would not be valid on Cross Country trains.
The document also suggests introducing longer trains ‘where affordable and value for money.’
Cross Country is the most extensive service in the country, serving seven of Britain’s ten biggest cities. In 2017/18, it carried 40m passengers.
In the document, Mr Grayling says: “Resolving crowding is my primary objective for the next franchise, and I want to see a growing and successful franchise that delivers this.”
A DfT spokesperson said: “We want to see a growing and successful Cross Country franchise that delivers better performance for passengers, new routes and services, and reduces overcrowding.”