Fears over extra trains promise

Date published: 11 February 2010

Oldham’s remaining railway stations have two of the highest growth rates in Greater Manchester — but the prospect of easing overcrowding there looks bleak, say experts.

Greenfield has seen passenger numbers grow by a massive 129 per cent since Northern Rail launched its franchise in 2003. Mills Hill has seen a 69 per cent growth.

But the Government will fail to meet its own three-year-old capacity promises in Greater Manchester because it will not buy enough rolling stock, it is claimed.

Department for Transport plans for extra capacity for the area will meet only half its 2007 High Level Output Specification (HLOS) commitment, all the stock will be second-hand and could be significantly delayed, says Greater Manchester Integrated Transport Authority (GMITA).

And in response to an all-party protest, Transport Secretary Lord Adonis has promised only to “look at what would be required and evaluate whether it is value for money and affordable.”

HLOS pledged extra capacity in Manchester of 4,100 by March, 2014. As a result, the DfT planned to order 200 new diesel train vehicles and Northern Rail was promised 182 extra, but revised the figure downwards last year and cancelled the order after announcing electrification of some lines.

Greater Manchester’s new electric trains are, in fact, to be refurbished Thameslink stock. There are fears that it will not be ready in time to run on the completed electrified lines.

Asking Lord Adonis to “consider the short-term needs of today’s passengers,” the three GMITA party leaders wrote: “The good work that is being done on the long-term future of the railway in Manchester (electrification, hub, high-speed rail) is in danger of being lost on a travelling public who see crowded old trains today and have the promise of little more in the future.”

But the transport secretary replied: “Electrification is undoubtedly the right way forward. Once the order for new Thameslink rolling stock is finalised, we shall be clear about the delivery profile and will then be able to give firm dates for transfer of the existing Thameslink rolling stock for routes in the North-West, where they will provide more capacity and improve performance.

“This also depends, crucially, on when Network Rail complete the electrification work.”

Lord Adonis promised to meet with Greater Manchester MPs shortly after a delegation put their concerns to him last November.

Meanwhile, the GMITA leaders are to write again to him to explain their worries.