Regional leaders slam cuts to rail services in the North

The poor state of rail services across the North has again come under fire at the latest meeting of the Transport for the North (TfN) body.

A Rail North Committee update delivered during the meeting earlier today – 30 March – warned passengers are still having to contend with reduced timetables, with some parts of the region set to lose further train services from May.

Liverpool Councillor Liam Robinson said he and his colleagues understood the problems facing rail operators, with staff having to isolate due to Covid-19.

But he added: “Rail use has bounced back faster in the North than it has in other parts of the country, so we need that to be reflected in the railway’s finances.

“As we come out of the pandemic we need to be promoting a green recovery, not a carbon recovery.”

He said he would be seeking a meeting with the Government’s Rail Minister to ensure the North’s rail network gets the backing it requires.

West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin said West and North Yorkshire are going to be worst affected by additional cuts to rail services, which she noted comes on top of losses to bus routes.

“This is the antithesis of Levelling Up,” she said. “We should be telling the operating companies that this goes against building back – if they keep eroding services it is managed decline.

“Covid has been used as a smoke screen in some circumstances for further erosion. We must make representations about this to Government at the highest level.”

Cllr Louise Gittins

Cheshire Cllr Louise Gittins said Avanti services from Crewe to Holyhead had been “drastically” reduced, adding this route now feels like a branch line.

And Morecambe Cllr Charles Edwards warned operators must not be allowed the loophole of apparently offering adequate timetables – only to then repeatedly make short-notice service cancellations.

He suggested that if these companies are struggling to recruit enough staff, then TfN could explore options to help attract more workers into the rail industry – especially young people.

South Yorkshire Mayor, Dan Jarvis, said: “The reality is that for people in South Yorkshire and across the North, these cuts will impact massively on their daily lives.

“It’s clear the public aren’t happy and I’m not happy. Let’s work together to see what we can do to improve things.”

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