Grayling challenged to explain rail ‘mess’ in North
AN INFLUENTIAL panel of regional politicians has called on the Transport Secretary Chris Grayling to explain why improvements to the region’s rail service are not being made.
Members of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) Transport Committee pulled no punches during a meeting yesterday in Leeds, branding recent rail performance as “outrageous” and “a mess”.
Latest figures, cited in a WYCA report, showed that reliability among trains run by operators Transpennine Express and Northern declined even further in the period from November to December last year.
Leader of Wakefield Council, Coun Peter Box, said: “I think it’s outrageous. It’s getting no better and that’s the truth.
“Promises that were made for improvements in 2019 have been reneged on already.
“I believe the North of England has been treated with contempt.
“The situation is not tenable. Let’s not mess around – let’s invite the Secretary of State to this committee and let’s quiz him about the franchises.
“We cannot go on like this. If we are serious about representing people from our communities, we should invite the Secretary of State to see what changes he is going to make.”
The comments come after summer plagued by disruption and delays for commuters in the region, following chaotic rail timetable changes. A SENIOR member of Kirklees Council revealed details of a letter setting out planned spending on transpennine rail routes.
Coun Peter McBride claimed to have a letter from Transport for the North detailing how the planned £2.9bn of investment would be spent. He told a West Yorkshire Combined Authority meeting yesterday that the letter said spending plans included electrifications from Victoria to Stalybridge and Leeds to Huddersfield, and “fourtracking” from Huddersfield to Ravensthorpe.
He said the letter also alluded to spending on “capacity works” at Stalybridge and Huddersfield.
A report put before members claimed that nearly one-third of Northern’s services were either late or cancelled during the period between November 11 and December 8 last year, while there were similar figures for Transpennine services. Delays were blamed on issues including damaged wheels, ageing infrastructure and even trespassers.
Coun Kim Groves, who chaired the meeting, said: “We have discussed this so many times. We need reassurances for the people of West Yorkshire. I am happy to invite Chris Grayling to speak with us.”
Comment: Page 16.