TfN claims no confidence in a stable timetable
Transport for the North has no confidence as to when a full, stable service will be restored by Northern, TransPennine Express and Network Rail.
There are plans to move the full May timetable to September, but TfN says it has yet to receive sufficient assurance that this would be fully deliverable.
In a Partnership Board meeting held in Manchester on July 31, TfN was presented with an update on current performance and plans, by NR and the two operators.
In a letter to Secretary of State for Transport Chris Grayling, dated August 1, TfN Chairman John Cridland said that following those presentations: “We were left with no confidence as to the existence of a joined-up, evidence-based plan to arrive at a date when full, stable service levels will be resumed.”
He wrote that while TfN acknowledged that an interim timetable introduced by Northern following the chaos of the May 20 timetable change ( RAIL 854) had brought some stability, “the ongoing levels of performance for both operators have continued to be poor, causing passengers to lose confidence in the rail system”.
Cridland continued: “It was apparent to the Board that there is no mechanism in place in the North to oversee both the operational delivery of train services and rail infrastructure, with accountability spread across the industry. Therefore, the Board are writing to request the appointment by Government of a single person to oversee both.”
A TPE spokesman said: “Since the start of the May timetable change, performance on our north route has suffered largely due to congestion in the Manchester area and infrastructure issues across the network.
“Around three-quarters of our delays have been caused by external factors over which we have no direct control, meaning we have not been providing the service that our customers deserve.
“There has been an improvement in reliability following the end of Northern’s emergency timetable, and we continue to work with Network Rail, other train operators and TfN until, as an industry, we can put this right.”