Chaos on the rails to be scrutinised
AN INDEPENDENT inquiry will be carried out into widespread failures on Northern Rail since the introduction of its new timetable.
People have been unable to travel as a result of large numbers of cancellations, particularly at peak times, since the new services came into effect on Sunday, May 20.
Commuters were already angry over the decision to cut services between Southport hport and Manchester Piccccadilly, only for the e remaining services to be badly hit by driver shortages.
Disruption was heightened by strike action by rail guards on Thursday, May 24 and Saturday, May 26.
Now Northern and Network Rail and Northern n have announced they will be commissioning an independent report and recommendations into “the preparations and processes leading up to the implementation of the recent timetable change”.
They also said that customer groups, transport and Northern stakeholders would be invited to contribute to the report.
Martin Frobisher, managing director for Network Rail’s Lon- don do North Western route. rou apologised to rail u users for the problems t they’d experienced and said it was working hard with Northern to avoid any repeat.
David Brown, managing director of Northern, said: “We are doing everything we can to minimise cancellations and delays and keep our customers informed. It has been difficult for many of our customers and I am truly sorry for this.
“There is urgent work to do to fully understand what did and didn’t work on all aspects of planning and delivery of the new timetable.
“We are committed to working with Network Rail and Northern stakeholders to deliver the services our customers expect and deserve.”
Southport MP Damien Moore had earlier backed Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham’s call for an inquiry into problems on the network.
Mr Moore said: “I asked Southport residents to get in touch with me if they’ve experienced any problems with Northern Rail’s new timetabling and the response was overwhelming.
“Lots of emails, lots of Tweets, lots of people in Southport let down.
“Whether it was the commuter trying to get to work, or the grandparent trying to see their grandchild, Northern Rail failed to deliver.
“I will be asking Ministers, and Northern, some real, serious questions about this issue and I also back Andy Burnham’s inquiry into what went wrong.”