Memorandum by North West Group of Labour
MPs
The North West Group of Labour MPs would like
to make a submission to your important inquiry into Passenger
Rail Franchises. The Group are concerned that the new rail franchises
configuration will have an adverse effect on the North West region.
I have attached a letter from Brian Simpson,
Campaign Director of the North West Rail Campaign which sets out
their concerns. These concerns are also shared by the Group.
I am sure that you will give this submission
serious consideration.
RE: CONSULTATIONS
ON NEW
RAIL FRANCHISES
I write on behalf of the North West Rail Campaign
(NWRC) in regard to the consultation process for the three new
rail franchises for Cross Country, East Midlands and West Midlands.
In general the NWRC welcomes the creation of
the East and West Midlands franchises, and the majority of the
proposals concerning Cross Country. However, we would like to
make the following points for your consideration.
We recognise that the three franchises concerned
are an attempt by the Government to improve both the quality and
frequency of services presently in operation, and that in the
main it is the Cross Country and East Midlands franchises that
affect the North West of England most.
However, we must make the point forcibly that,
in our opinion, the lack of infrastructure capacity in and around
Manchester not only brings into question the ability of the railway
industry to deliver better services, but it is also having a detrimental
effect on the region's economy. Increasingly we are trying to
get "a quart into a pint pot", particularly at peak
times.
With passenger numbers having increased more
than 10% in the Greater Manchester area, our peak services are
at capacity and beyond, causing overcrowding and delays getting
in and out of Manchester.
Therefore, whilst it is not necessarily an issue
in regard to these three franchises, we feel that the point has
to be made that infrastructure enhancement in the Manchester Hub
along with longer trains and extra rolling stock in the wider
North West region are urgently required if we are to deliver a
better railway.
It also has to be said that the constraints
at Birmingham New Street also present a problem that needs to
be addressed particularly as it would appear that the Government
are increasing services between these two very congested hubs.
However, we are happy that the Government appears
now to recognise that other major cities outside of London have
commuters, and that there is an urgent need to separate commuters
from long distance travellers.
Here in the North West, our long distance trains
are often overcrowded because of commuter usage. This is a particular
problem on the Preston-Bolton-Manchester corridor. What is required
here is more rolling stock for the Northern Rail franchise which
is why the NWRC opposes the removal of units, particularly 158s,
away from our region unless there is a quid pro quo replacement
programme of other rolling stock of similar or increased capacity.
The proposals outlined for the three new franchises
cannot be judged in isolation. There has to be a serious look
at the role of other franchises, the services they offer, the
rolling stock that they have to work with, and how the railway
infrastructure copes or fails to cope with the number of services
it has to accommodate.
If the Government is serious about separating
commuters from long distance travellers then here in the North
West, they will have to give serious thought to allowing Northern
Rail to acquire rolling stock that can increase capacity on their
services, thus easing problems for the longer distance TOCs.
CROSS COUNTRY
The NWRC has some concerns in regard to the
proposals not to have cross Country services north of Crewe on
the WCML. Whilst we appreciate that it is intended to bring these
services within an extended TPE franchise, we would question whether
this would lead to an improvement in service for those areas affected.
It is our belief that for towns between Crewe
and Glasgow, the removal of Cross Country services will, at best,
cause inconvenience for passengers and, at worst, will cause extra
congestion on Virgin West Coast services as passengers for the
South West try to get to Crewe or Birmingham by the quickest possible
service. Added to this is the fact that more passengers will be
changing trains at an already overcrowded Birmingham New Street,
or a run-down Crewe station.
However, if the Government is determined to
incorporate Cross Country north of Crewe into TPE, then there
are a few points we would like to make:
Finally, we appreciate the need to ensure that
these franchises are placed in context with the various regional
Rail Utilisation Strategies. The NWRC reminds the Government that
we are still awaiting the North West RUS and the Regional Planning
Assessment, as well as a final agreement on the West Coast franchise.
We are told that, like Christmas, they are coming: but which Christmas?
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