Commuters in Northern Rail protest
COMMUTERS are protesting and have launched a petition after Northern Rail axed stops from a peak time train service.
Prestbury and Adlington stations are no longer stops for the 17.21 service from Manchester Piccadilly, which now stops at Congleton instead.
This has left angry passengers saying there was no consultation over the move and requests for a subsequent explanation
have proved fruitless.
The service had been popular with travellers to Prestbury and Adlington and already crowded trains have become even more packed.
Jonathan Bradshaw, a dad-of-two from Prestbury, who works in Manchester, started the petition.
He said: “There are clearly bigger problems in the world than a cancelled train but that doesn’t mean that decisions that impact people’s lives should go unchallenged
“The lack of consultation, transparency and thought at play in this decision by Northern Rail is disgraceful.
“Workers, business people and anyone with a fixed schedule are now forced onto roads increasing their expense and journey times.
“If we want the roads of Cheshire to be gridlocked, a more polluted environment and our contribution to global warming increased, this decision from Northern Rail helps deliver that.”
Youngsters who attend school in Stockport - including Jonathan’s son - have also been affected by the change, which came into force on May 20.
Jonathan says Adlington station’s proximity to the Woodford Garden Village development of around 1,000 homes makes it an obvious travel location for residents there.
Which means even more people are going to elect to use the car.
Jonathan has also written to Northern Rail asking for an explanation, made an official complaint and raised the matter with his local councillor.
A spokesman for Northern said: “As part of the recent timetable change we have extended some Manchester Piccadilly to Macclesfield services to run as far as Stoke-on-Trent, calling at Congleton.
“Unfortunately, to accommodate other operators on this route at similar times, it has been necessary to remove some stops.
“Before any timetable change we carry out extensive consultation with stakeholders and, where possible try to answer any concerns and accommodate any feedback.
“We fully understand the frustrations of local rail users and will continue to investigate further possibilities to enhance the service for our customers.”
The petition can be found at rebrand.ly/PrestburyRail.