16,000 back rail campaign
MORE than 16,000 commuters from across the North have backed a campaign demanding urgent action from the Government to improve the region’s railways.
As cancellations, delays and shortened trains continue to blight daily life for many across the North, regional journalists are continuing to highlight the chronic failings of our region’s rail network.
Last week, newspapers across the North united to launch the #onenorth campaign, with a series of demands for a better rail network. This prompted a promise from Theresa May that the problems caused by Northern Rail’s new timetable was a ‘priority’ for her cabinet, while an enhanced compensation scheme for passengers has also been promised.
Transport secretary Chris Grayling was due to host a conference call with Northern politicians yesterday, while Northern Powerhouse minister Jake Berry has found himself answering questions about the debacle regularly, telling the Manchester Evening News he doesn’t consider himself personally responsible for the trains running on time in the North.
A joint petition was launched a week ago, and has now been signed by more than 16,000 people, while reporters from across the North liveblogged the morning commutes people are enduring across the North as Northern Rail continues to struggle to get its new timetable to work.
The campaign and petition has also been supported by a number of hyperlocal news websites in the North - the first time regional news publishers and hyperlocal sites have supported the same campaign.
According to social media data, the joint approach resulted in more than 5,000 tweets using the hashtag #onenorth last week, from 3,200 people, reaching 7.2m Twitter users and being seen 36.2m times.
M.E.N. editor-in-chief Darren Thwaites said: “The campaign has been a success so far, forcing ministers and rail bosses to pay more attention to the challenges on the North’s railways, but this is just the start.
“The chaos on Northern rail services, and the blame game which is now underway, is a symptom on much deeper problems, such as under-investment in rail services in the North, and a lack of understanding about the North’s transport needs.
“We need to keep the pressure on, and ensure that this issue doesn’t move down the agenda in Westminster.”
The petition calls on the Prime Minister to:
Summon transport chiefs, and business leaders, to 10 Downing Street for an emergency summit to devise an action plan to get this region moving again
Announce a special compensation scheme for those passengers most affected by the delays and disruption
Give Transport for the North the necessary policy and financial powers so it can have full oversight of all local, suburban and regional services and work in tandem with Network Rail. It is clear our railways cannot be cared for properly from London
Commit the Government to a full and fundamental review of rail franchising – the Northern fiasco is yet another example of a franchisee over-promising and under-delivering;
Demonstrate a commitment to fair transport funding for the North, with a pledge that the planned highspeed line across the Pennines –NPR – is an equal priority to Crossrail II in London.
You can sign the petition here: https://tinyurl.com/northernrail.