Timetable plan for Northern delayed
PLANS FOR a new timetable on Northern rail services have been delayed in a bid to avoid a repeat of the chaos that affected passengers across the region this summer as former Chancellor George Osborne ramped up pressure for a revolution in transport policies.
The Rail Delivery Group has announced that Northern, as well as other operators such as TransPennine and Govia Thameslink, will not introduce new timetables in December as expected.
The national rail timetable is routinely changed twice a year, in May and December, to allow new services to be introduced as a result of investment in infrastructure and trains.
But as a result of the botched introduction of a new timetable for Northern on May 20 and similar problems with Govia
Thameslink, a “more cautious approach” is being taken.
Mr Osborne has now called for the Northern Powerhouse initiative to be taken “to the next level” through devolution of powers over transport policy. In the latest edition of Yorkshire Vision, The
Yorkshire Post’s business magazine, Mr Osborne delivers an upbeat assessment on prospects for the Northern Powerhouse initiative, which he first unveiled as Chancellor in 2014.
He added: “I think a lot has been achieved, but I think now we’ve got to take the Northern Powerhouse to the next level and create a real devolution of power to the North of England, and I think the obvious place to look is transport.
“The recent débacle over railway timetables and the delays on the trains in the North of England, which is ongoing, is actually a moment to say, ‘well, wouldn’t it be better if the trains were run out of the North of England?’.”
Mr Osborne’s intervention came as it emerged that new timetables on Northern rail services would not be instigated later in the year.
The majority of operators will introduce a new timetable, but eight in total will continue with the May timetables. The announcement casts doubt on when the improvements to Northern services that were promised in the last two timetable changes will be implemented.
Network Rail chief Peter Hendy said: “The railway industry has taken a long, hard look at its plans for the next timetable change in December and, taking into account recent painful lessons, the industry has scaled back its ambition and tempered it with a more cautious, phased approach to introducing the new timetable.
“While there will still be new services introduced this December, other new services will now be introduced more gradually over the next few timetable changes to help smooth their introduction and maintain a reliable service for passengers and businesses alike.
“The railway is too vital for the health and wealth of our country to risk a repeat of the mistakes of May and this more balanced approach of ambition and caution is absolutely the right thing to do for the millions who rely on our railway every day.”
However, Coun Judith Blake, Leeds City Council’s leader and a member of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, said: “Yet again, a major decision on rail services has been made without warning, without consultation with northern leaders and without a voice for passengers, an issue my review into the timetable chaos will address as a priority.
“The Government should ensure the commitments made by rail operators properly reflect Network Rail’s capacity so when passengers are promised service improvements they are delivered on time. It is clear the current system is failing passengers, business and all who rely on a functioning rail network.”
After leaving office following the 2016 Brexit referendum, Mr Osborne launched the Northern Powerhouse Partnership. The independent body aims to represent business and civic leaders in the North.
Chaired by Mr Osborne, its board boasts bosses from some of the North’s biggest banking and infrastructure firms, as well as council leaders.