Rail failures under new timetable to be scrutinised
AN INDEPENDENT inquiry will be carried out in to widespread failures on Northern Rail since the introduction of its new timetable.
Travellers have been left unable to travel as a result of huge numbers of cancellation, particularly at peak times, since the new services came into effect on Sunday, May 20.
Major problems have been experienced around the region as a result of driver shortages since the changes, described as the “biggest in decades”.
Disruption was heightened by strike action by rail guards on Thursday, May 24 and Saturday, May 26.
Now Northern and Network Rail and Northern have announced that they will be commissioning an independent report and recommendations into “the preparations and processes leading up to the implementation of the recent timetable change”. They also said that customer groups, transport and Northern stakeholders will be invited to contribute to the report.
Martin Frobisher, managing director for Network Rail’s London North Western route. apologised to rail users for the problems they’d experienced and said it was working hard with Northern to avoid any repeat.
David Brown, managing director of Northern, said: “We are doing everything we can to minimise cancellations and delays and keep our customers informed. It has been difficult for many of our customers and I am truly sorry for this.
“There is urgent work to do to fully understand what did and didn’t work on all aspects of planning and delivery of the new timetable.
“We are committed to working with Network Rail and Northern stakeholders to deliver the services our customers expect and deserve.”