News organisations unite in calls to fix broken Northern rail network

Northern rail

News organisations across the North, including Rochdale Online, have taken a united stance to call for the Government to fix its broken Northern rail services.

More than 20 news titles across the region have started a petition calling on ministers to deliver on their northern powerhouse pledges - by ending the chaos on rail services, signing off the upgrades that were promised and rectifying decades of underfunding to the region.

Four years ago, then-Chancellor George Osborne promised - when unveiling his vision for a northern powerhouse - to ‘join our northern cities together’ with faster, modern transport connections.

Directly addressing the franchise eventually won by Northern Rail a year later, he said: “We’ll want to see not just better services, and more seats at peak times, but also better journeys.”

Instead of launching a lengthy inquiry that will not report back until the end of the year, transport secretary Chris Grayling needs to end the chaos on our rail network now.

A fair, fit-for-purpose compensation scheme needs to be put in place within days. 

The rest of the northern powerhouse that government promised are also needed: the major transport projects - such as extra platforms at Manchester Piccadilly and Oxford Road - were pledged, but languish on Mr Grayling’s desk.

Finally, fair funding - not more second-class services, while London eyes up its second high-speed CrossRail link. 

The combined voice of the media says to the Prime Minister: You promised us a northern powerhouse: it’s time it was delivered.

Sign the petition here: 

https://www.change.org/p/prime-minister-end-the-northern-rail-nightmare-give-us-the-powerhouse-you-promised