Working to get rail fiasco answers
AS the Northern rail timetable fiasco enters its fourth week I have been working hard in Parliament to get answers from Government and both Northern Rail and Network Rail about what can be done to improve the chaotic and unacceptable situation for passengers.
These timetable changes are having a damaging and hurtful impact on both the family and professional lives of my constituents.
It has left hundreds of commuters unable to get into Manchester for work on time and pupils being disrupted getting to schools, as well as having a significant effect on parents coordinating school drop-offs.
It is also forcing some commuters to abandon rail and to travel by car instead.
Last week I met with representatives of Northern Rail and Network Rail to tell them of the problems their new timetable is having for local residents, particularly passengers who use Hazel Grove, Woodsmoor and Davenport stations in the morning’s rush hour to get to Manchester.
I urged both organisations to work together collectively and urgently to improve the situation for passengers.
I have also had meetings in Parliament with both the Transport Secretary, Chris Grayling and the Rail Minister, Jo Johnson and urged them to bang heads together to sort out the morning peak-time 45-minute gap in peak morning services that is affecting passengers so badly.
After being one of the first MPs to raise the issue in Parliament with my own debate in May on the timetable affecting Hazel Grove and the surrounding areas, I also spoke last week in a House of Commons debate on how the Northern Rail timetable was affecting Greater Manchester.
Both Network Rail and Northern Rail have given assurances that improvements will be made in time for the next timetable review in December.
But questions still remain for passengers faced with a whole summer of disruption.
I am also calling on the Department for Transport, Northern and Network Rail to put their heads together and see what can be done to alleviate this unacceptable situation for passengers.
I have written formally to Northern Rail to request the use of four-car trains instead of two-car trains wherever possible to at least try and reduce some of the overcrowding issues.
I am also asking Northern Rail to ensure passengers are properly compensated for delays and cancellations.