Extra rail carriages start running today

Date published: 19 October 2009

Extra carriages on train services on the Rochdale and Huddersfield lines started running today (Monday 19 October).

Greater Manchester Integrated Transport Authority (GMITA) has agreed to foot the bill to strengthen two trains in the morning peak and three trains in the evening peak – by an extra 120 seats each – following recent episodes of severe overcrowding on the two lines.

This morning the 07.44 service from Todmorden into Manchester Victoria via Rochdale (at 08.00) and the 16.48 service from Wigan Wallgate to Rochdale via Victoria (at 17.28) will both be strengthened with two extra carriages.

From next Monday (26 October), the 06.57 service from Huddersfield to Southport via Ashton (at 07.34), the 17.00 Manchester Victoria to Leeds, and the 17.27 service out of Manchester Victoria on the Huddersfield line will also be strengthened.

Peak-time overcrowding on the two lines, which has been progressively rising for several years, has become more acute since the closure of the Oldham Loop Line on 3 October.

Councillor Keith Whitmore, Chairman of GMITA, said: “I am grateful to Northern for their speedy response to our endeavours and for making the necessary arrangements to get these trains up and running for passengers who desperately need them."

Rochdale MP Paul Rowen said: “Travelling conditions over the last few weeks have been unbearable but I am pleased to say that transport bosses listened to my pleas. I met with Councillor Whitmore last week in Parliament and stated the case for urgent action. Councillor Whitmore listened to my case, as well as looking at evidence collected by local rail campaigner John Murray. He then made the announcement that commuters from Rochdale were desperate to hear. It’s good to have such decisive action, Councillor Whitmore is an example of a politician who listens and on behalf of commuters I thank him.”

“Our Transport Bosses worked hard to turn this around and I would like to thank Northern Rail. With the new carriages up and running, this new enhanced service with make life more bearable.”

Lee Wasnidge, Area Director, Northern Rail, said: “We are delighted that the funding is now in place to provide additional carriages for our customers.

“We will work with our partners to quickly introduce the extra capacity and in the longer term to address the continuing demand for rail travel in the north.”

Councillor Whitmore added: “The demand for services on the two lines is an indication of just how much the rail network across Greater Manchester is under pressure.

“We will continue to campaign for the additional carriages that are critical to guaranteeing a long-term solution to the overcrowding being experienced not just on the Rochdale and Huddersfield lines, but across Greater Manchester and the north as a whole.

”We are already working closely with our industry partners to secure investment in improvements to the rail infrastructure around central Manchester – known as the Hub – which is operating at close to capacity. We clearly need to make sure that the capacity on services is also available to accommodate demand if we are to fully realise the potential of the rail network.”