RAIL CHAOS OVER NEW TIMETABLE
Warning for commuters and Xmas travel
COMMUTERS face fresh Christmas travel hell as many train networks introduce a new timetable today.
Carriers including London North Eastern Railway – which has more than 20 million passengers a year – Hull Trains, Grand Central, South Eastern and Virgin Trains West Coast will all see disruption.
The last timetable change, in May, caused widespread disruption, with many trains cancelled or delayed – and led to mass complaints from disgruntled passengers.
While Network Rail has assured passengers “lessons have been learned”, passenger groups and unions have warned travellers to expect delays to services. Manuel Cortes, of the TSSA union, said: “It’s like rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic. This will do nothing to repair the damage which fragmentation and privatisation have inflicted on our industry.”
Bruce Williamson, of campaign group Railfuture, said: “The timetable change should go smoother than it did in May, but nothing is guaranteed.”
The Sunday People can also reveal Northern Rail passengers will be hit with yet more disruption – as an ongoing industrial dispute means workers are now staging walk-outs every Saturday before Christmas.
The network has been dubbed Northern Fail by passengers left struggling to hold down jobs and even forced to move home.
Katie Macdonald, a contracts manager, told how it is not uncommon for 50 or 60 people to be left behind on the platform, unable to board the early morning service from Bolton to Manchester Victoria.
She said: “Northern Rail is a chaotic, shameful, national disgrace.”
Tim Farron, MP for South Lake District, said: “It is simply not acceptable. Nobody can rely on Northern – they have to go.”
Northern said: “We would like to apologise to any customers who face delays, cancellations or a reduction in carriages.”