STORM concern of Government intent on rail closures affecting Rochdale

In a briefing document to the Rochdale Chamber of Commerce Joint Transportation Group Richard Greenwood MBE of STORM has expressed his concern that the Government is intent on a large scale policy of rail closures of both individual stations and complete services. He notes that off peak trains (including evenings) are particularly at risk.

The document deals in depth with the lack of investment in the Rochdale line and the potential problems that stores up for the future.

He says his major concerns are:

"Every official or advisory body looking at Improvements in Railway services in the North West Region totally ignores all the rail services through Rochdale.    They are concentrating and lobbying for just two major schemes.   One is the continuing upgrade of the West Coast Mainline between Manchester/Liverpool/Scotland and London Euston and the second is to press for expensive layout alterations (“Piccadilly Rail Hub Upgrade”) in the Piccadilly station area ostensibly for the benefit of Trans Pennine Express which runs Liverpool-Piccadilly-Huddersfield-Leeds-York-North East and Virgin’s London services.   These lobby groups and strategic bodies appear to be ignoring the services via Rochdale and Manchester Victoria.    Any available money for rail improvements in the North West is going on these schemes and the Rochdale line services are likely to be left to wither on the vine with nil investment.   On the other hand, there could be benefits for local rail passengers of the “Manchester Hub”.    Some of the trains from Leeds via Rochdale could be run to Salford crescent, then reverse to serve the Airport.   The Manchester Airport authorities recognize that this rail service would provide a substantial number of airport passengers.   But if the Rochdale area is to have any benefit from the “Manchester Hub” scheme, lobbying and presuure must start now."

He proposes that improvements could be made for a modest investment:

"Longer trains would enable commuters to travel in 21st Century conditions without being left behind on platforms by overloaded trains.   The significant number of commuters fed up with the present state of affairs  and who have reverted to car would return to rail.   

"The current trend is for commuters to return home later into the evening.    Local lines tend to drop from a half hourly frequency to hourly at around 8pm.   Operating on a half hourly frequency  throughout the evening would prove an advantage for commuters, late night shoppers and cinema and theatre goers.

"Whilst Rochdale station has full time staff and Littleborough is staffed mornings only, the rest of the local stations are unstaffed.   Where staff are introduced passenger numbers increase.  This partly is due to a feeling of security on the part of passengers and partly the knowledge that information is available when trains may be late or out of course.  All the other local stations with the possible exception of New Hey should be staffed mornings only."
  
The Department for Transport (DfT) has ordered a total review of all the Northern Rail services.  This includes all the services serving Rochdale.   Passengers and Rail User Groups will not be able to submit information or objections to the results of such a review.  Only local authorities and Passenger Transport Executives will be able to raise objections.  

Greenwood notes:

"There is a suspicion that the DfT survey will base its passenger figures on those compiled by the Strategic Rail Authority for the period 2002/3.    These are seriously out of date for the Rochdale area and do not take into account recent passenger increases.   Further they were compiled in August so omit entirely the significant number of passengers between the local stations to Salford University.   The Greater Manchester Traffic Unit monitored local stations from 0700 to 1400 on a day in November 2004 with figures well above the 2002/3 pf the SRA.   The GMTU may update this information in 2005.

"The results of the survey being conducted by consultants on behalf of the DfT will be published early in 2006.   Everyone within the Rail Industry anticipates that it will recommend closure of many rail lines in the North West, closure of many of the smaller stations and reduction in frequency of services especially in the evening.

Rochdale MBC needs to be ready to challenge the findings of the survey if it  proposes closure of local stations and services.   One method may be by challenging any figures produced by the Department of Transport and to point out how overcrowding keeps the trains from performing as well as they could.   Again any costing should be scrutinised and if necessary challenged."

On the proposed extension to Metrolink he says:

"The position of the Rochdale-Oldham-Manchester line is aggravated by the uncertainty of its being converted to Metrolink.   If common sense is applied, then it should not be considered for closure so long as there is a chance of  Metrolink but whether the DfT will see it that way is another matter entirely.  At he moment the DfT on rail and light rail matters is being completely driven by the object of saving money."

In summarising he calls for:

• Any false information in the survey to be challenged
• Opposition to any unreasonable closure proposals
• A campaign for improved capacity on trains throughout the Greater Manchester area where they are inadequate
• Regional Bodies to be canvassed for development of the railway services in the Rochdale area
• Support for the proposals of Grand Central Railway for through services between Halifax and London which would have good cross-platform connections from Rochdale
• The nonsense of talk about congestion charging on the M60 to be pointed out when the alternative rail services into Manchester cannot cope with present demand let alone offer a viable alternative to more commuters.