Rail North West A service to Buxton awaits departure at Manchester Piccadilly. Travellers into Piccadilly from Buxton face increased fares on early evening services. Photo Arthur Thomson Off Peak Fare Limits “Worse Than London.” Travelwatch NorthWest is calling on peak fares for train travel in Greater Northern Trains to revisit the recently Manchester departing between 16.00 introduced change to off-peak fare and 18.30 which were previously priced times because of the effect it is have at “off peak” prices. It is understood on evening leisure travel, especially that this was to improve revenues from leading up to the busy Christmas commuters travelling home like in period. Northern Trains passengers London, but unlike London (and other travelling into Manchester on weekday cities) the policy has also been applied evenings for theatre visits, nights out, to train fares for travelling against the sports events or late night shopping are commuter flow into the city. This has facing having to pay a massive caught leisure travellers visiting increase in train fares. Manchester City Centre for nights out who now have to pay an extra 20% to In September 2014, Northern Trains, 50% for their train journey. under instruction from the Department for Transport, were forced to apply Newsletter of the North West Branch1 of Railfuture — Winter 2014/5 Rail North West 2 Winter 2014/5 Chris Dale, Chairman of TravelWatch brainstorm and workshop sessions. NorthWest said, “As we approach the The challenges and opportunities for Christmas holidays thousands of extra Railfuture are clear: our core of active passengers will be travelling into members will shrink unless we Manchester for shopping, the campaign and recruit new members, Christmas Markets, and nights out. If whilst the current popularity of rail they catch a train from a station within travel gives us the unique opportunity Greater Manchester between 16.00 of an independent voice to represent and 18.30, as many will, they will face rail users. paying a supplementary fare. This is totally unacceptable and we call on We found a lot to agree on - we are a Northern Trains to review its policy. nationwide organisation that also Manchester’s evening economy relies delivers successful national and local heavily on public transport and visitors campaigns, we are well-informed and could not be blamed for turning to other well-respected in the rail industry, and means, such as cars, trams and that we successfully deliver high profile buses.” campaigns. We are independent and open minded, campaigning on the Examples of return fare comparisons: issues that affect rail users. We stand for better and more integrated rail Journey to Fare Fare travel. Manchester before after The national groups, for example the from; 1600 1600 Passenger, Freight and Infrastructure & Wigan £4.20 £9.10 Networks Groups, can help us to Stalybridge £3.30 £5.80 campaign locally - they have a wealth Handforth £5.50 £7.70 of experience of what makes a campaign successful which we can “There are numerous inconsistencies in draw on. If you would like to help fares,” added Mr. Dale, “and you could Railfuture campaign nationally, not blame passengers for looking at volunteers are always welcome! alternatives.” Through the workshop sessions we The future for Railfuture; identified our stakeholders, the people Branches and Groups Day and organisations that can benefit from our activities. We need to interact with 2014 them so that they appreciate the value of what we do; for example we must On 11th October this year, your branch engage with MPs, councillors and Chairman, Trevor Bishop represented council officers to help them our branch at the annual Railfuture understand transport issues. The Branches and Groups Day, which this branch does have some contacts, but year was held in Birmingham and this in some areas we don’t, so if in your is his report. area, you (or a Rail User Group you “Unlike previous years, the plan was may be a member of), do have those not to sit and listen - we were contacts; we would be very grateful if organised into table groups for you could pass those on so that we can Rail North West 3 Winter 2014/5 build our relationships to make our to run next year. Then with the branch collective voice heard. committee we will identify whether we need any training to help us campaign We also brainstormed our hopes and effectively, and re-engage with the fears for the future, identifying the stakeholders that we identified in the issues that we have to address as an workshop. organisation and the areas where we can grow. These formed the basis of a You may have seen the related article 90 day action plan to which I and all the in Railwatch 142 which tells you more other delegates committed. about the day. My thoughts are that it will help Railfuture focus on the things My immediate actions are to brief you, we need to do in the short and medium the branch members, on the outcome term and the day was a thought- of the meeting and to set you the target provoking, rewarding, enjoyable and of each introducing a friend, colleague successful experience. Our job now is or relative to Railfuture as a new to inspire you as members to help us member by 31st March 2015. As part with our campaign for a bigger better of the normal budgeting exercise at this Railfuture and a bigger better railway. time of year I will also identify our Thank you for your support” objectives and the campaigns we plan ------------------------------------------------------------------------ A large number of passengers crowd onto a Manchester bound summer evening service at Knutsford on the Mid Cheshire line. Photo Arthur Thomson. MCRUA wants more services on this line Mid Cheshire’s 2 trains/ trains per hour service along the line from Manchester to Chester. The Hour Plan Gains Support. proposal is that as well as the all We reported in the last edition of a draft stations stopping service, there is also proposal by the Mid Cheshire Rail a semi-fast service from Piccadilly to Users Association (MCRUA) for a 2 Chester and back, stopping only at the Rail North West 4 Winter 2014/5 more heavily used stations of Stockport, the diagrammed 150. Although it was Altrincham, Knutsford, Northwich, quieter than normal, Alex nevertheless Greenbank and then Chester. saw how busy the train was and some regular passengers talked to him about Cheshire & Warrington Local Transport trains needing to be longer. On seeing Board (LTB) discussed this at a meeting this, Alex has committed to Northern in June with a number of the MCRUA working up a business and resource case group present to answer questions. With to see if two trains an hour service can be Network Rail having confirmed that the introduced before the end of the current paths were available, the LTB decided to franchise in February 2016 and the group fully support the proposal, seeing the are hoping that there will be some news benefit for the local and the North West in early 2015. economies. STOP PRESS: Lakes Line In early July, MCRUA persuaded Alex Electrification confirmed Hynes, Managing Director Northern to join them on one of the busiest services, As this edition was going to press, it was the “Sardines Express,” 0717 Piccadilly to confirmed by the Government that the Chester which loads to over 270 into line from Windermere to Oxenholme on Knutsford, and often leaves people the West Coast Main Line would be behind when it’s a class 142 rather than electrified at a cost of £16million. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Views of the old railings and work being undertaken to renew them at Glossop Station. Photo courtesy Neil Williams, Friends of Glossop Station Friends of Glossop Station were pre-painted red and green to match the house colours of the station. Secure Improvements The original railings had been painted Glossop station has recently seen externally in 2007 in a long voluntary further enhancement of its job undertaken by Friends of Glossop surroundings with the recent station (with the permission of Network replacement of perimeter railings by Rail). In recent years the group had Network Rail and its contractors been politely campaigning for their Haywood and Jackson. The 37 panels replacement. The group is delighted of railings, which were 102 years old, with the new railings, which enhance were replaced by robust modern day the two gardens maintained by FOGS, equivalents exactly matching the style and thank Network Rail for their and fittings of the originals. The railings investment and the quality of this work. Rail North West 5 Winter 2014/5 ITT awaited as FLAG Sees frequent, high-quality and fast direct link to Manchester and its airport, so vital to Commons Debate on Their our local economy. Having secured a Line commitment from the Secretary of State to study the Furness Line Study, I'm In August, The Furness Line Action looking forward to setting out in more Group (FLAG) submitted their response detail why the direct Manchester trains to the DfT's franchise consultation must be retained and improved and how document on the renewed Northern and damaging it would be if Furness was to TPE franchises. This threatens to move be relegated to the end of a branch line.” Furness from the TransPennine to Northern franchise and places the Speaking after the debate, Mr Farron remaining through Manchester services said, “the Minister's comments were in jeopardy. In October the two local MPs, encouraging. It seems as though her Tim Farron and John Woodcock, debated department have listened to our concerns the future of the line with Parliamentary and know that something needs to be Under-Secretary of State for Transport done if we are to protect and enhance the Claire Perry in the House of Commons.