Petition in battle to stop rail cuts

MORE than 1,000 commuters who use a busy train station are protesting at a decision to cut the number of services that stop there.

Northern Rail proposals for the Manchester Piccadilly to Buxton line include plans to cut the number of trains calling at Heaton Chapel from four to three an hour.

Station users say carriages are overcrowded as it is and, if anything, the number of services should be increased particularly in rush hour.

A campaign has begun to reverse the plans which are out to consultation - and an online petition has been set up that has been signed by more than 1,300 people in five days.

Mark Anderson is among those to sign it and said: “This is ridiculous.

“How Northern Rail can actually contemplate reducing the current service is laughable.

“During peak times the standard of service is already poor at best. Trains are continually late due to overcrowding.

“If anything, there should be additional services in peak hours I’m sick of feeling like cattle en-route to a farmers market.”

Another, Richard Parkes, said: “Heaton Chapel station is busy at peak times almost dangerously so.

“If we are supposed to be trying to become more sustainable, increasing rather than decreasing the trains would make more sense.”

The petition, set up by resident Anthony Williams, says that Heaton Chapel is the busiest two-platform station in Greater Manchester.

And that it is used for 750,000 journeys a year with the annual growth in usage nine per cent.

Heaton Chapel is the third station on this line where commuters have protested at the planned changes, which would begin in May 2018.

Passengers at Davenport and Woodsmoor, which serve Stepping Hill Hospital, Stockport Grammar and Aquinas College, are also angry at reductions with rush hour trains set to fall from 10 to six.

A spokesman for Northern Rail said: “As part of the ambitious modernisation of the network we are currently consulting on proposed enhancements to timetables.

“Our proposals will see more trains out on the network, faster journeys and increased capacity on key routes during peak hours. This will all be supported by a fully refurbished fleet.”

“The consultation is in the early stages – nothing has been set in stone – we welcome all feedback.”