Rail service is absolute,
MP REVEALS JUST 29 PER CENT OF TRAINS HAVE BEEN ON TIME AT HUDDERSFIELD SINCE MAY
THE four Labour MPs in Kirklees have laid into the government and rail firms amid the bleakest period for train passengers in living memory.
Dewsbury MP Paula Sherriff said she had heard of people missing vital medical appointments and even funerals due to the appalling performance of the region’s two train companies, Northern and TransPennine Express (TPE).
Passengers have been suffering disruption and cancellations on a daily basis since new timetables were brought in last May, which in Kirklees saw TPE take over some of the services previously run by Northern.
Miss Sherriff, who secured the debate about train companies’ performance in Yorkshire, was joined at Westminster Hall by Huddersfield MP Barry Sheerman, Colne Valley MP Thelma Walker and Batley and Spen MP, Tracy Brabin.
All four blasted the lamentable performance of the operators, the lack of action by the Government and the huge disparity in investment between Yorkshire and London.
Miss Sherriff said just 29% of trains had been on time at Huddersfield since May.
She said: “Seven months ago, I had a meeting with Northern rail just ahead of the implementation of the revised timetables.
“I was unequivocally assured that services would improve and that that would be the answer to a lot of the issues that my constituents were experiencing.
“I was told that the new timetables had been stress-tested and that everything would be fine. Instead, what we got was absolute, total and utter chaos – and I do not use that word lightly... all because of a half-baked plan that was obviously unworkable from day one.”
For six months my constituents have been given nothing but empty promises.
She added: “Passengers are understandably weary of promised improvements, and the Rail Minister’s assurance that the situation has stabilised will undoubtedly be met with a degree of cynicism. For six months, my constituents have been given nothing but empty promises and false assurances.
“It was bad enough through the