MPs alarmed at Freedom of Information revelations in drive to save direct train services to Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Airport.



MPs with constituencies served by the Southport to Manchester Airport rail service have seen transcripts of e-mails relating to the threatened closure of the direct link to Piccadilly and the airport, some of which have been described by Southport’s MP, John Pugh, as “not very clever”.

The plan to direct all services through Manchester Victoria - which would mean trains no longer stopping at Deansgate, Oxford Rd, Piccadilly and the Airport - has caused concern and outrage among those who regularly travel to Manchester city centre for work, education and business and who use the Airport. Currently Manchester bound services alternate between Victoria and Piccadilly (& the Airport), but because rail chiefs want to run new services from other towns to the airport, commuters from Southport to Wigan face losing direct train links to Deansgate , Oxford Rd, Piccadilly stations.

MPs, John Pugh (Southport), Rosie Cooper (West Lancs) , Lisa Nandy (Wigan) and Yvonne Fovargue (Makerfield) are due to meet train operator Arriva Northern and other rail industry chiefs this Friday (1st July) to discuss proposed route changes that would see the Piccadilly-Airport link being axed from Dec 2017. At the meeting Arriva Northern will be asked to explain how such a change to a long-established service is happening without any consultation of those using the service. The MPs will be demanding a solution to the problem be found.

Arriva announced the changes, which are set to come into force in December 2017, soon after winning the contract for the former Northern Rail franchise.

Southport’s MP, John Pugh, has been working to improve the quality of the service to Manchester said: “Arriva made lots of encouraging noises during the tendering process a year ago. When it won the franchise we were hit with the bombshell of the Airport service being axed in Dec 2017, with Arriva saying it was not their fault.

“The truth is that there are fingerprints all over this decision – rail industry decision makers, civil servants, transport authority planners.

“Freedom of Information requests reveal some interesting threads and to be honest some on the comments I’ve seen aren’t very ‘clever’ – certain officials flippantly ducking and weaving the issue rather than acknowledging that there is a problem that needs addressing.

“Not even bothering to consult with commuters could be construed as the height of arrogance but I think actually it’s the sign of a decision that’s been poorly thought through right from the start.

“This meeting on 1st July is a chance to start thinking about the needs of commuters and air travellers who face their return Journeys being extended by a totally impractical and unsuitable change at Salford Crescent. I and my parliamentary colleagues are looking for Arriva and rail industry chiefs to think about solving this problem, a problem that shouldn’t really have come about in the first place.”

Now we are out of the EU we can put the service back into public ownership. See Dr Pugh being out of the EU is not all that bad.

The Northern Powerhouse, there is no capacity at Piccadilly for more trains running through to the Airport so to cater for all these trains running under these expensive electric wires something has to go, - the diesel services from elsewhere!

I don't think its PIc thats the problem Castlefield junction is the problem.

Originally Posted by gerrard24

Now we are out of the EU we can put the service back into public ownership.

Do you actually know what you are talking about?

Two points:
1. Being in the EU doesn't stop things like railways being taken back into public ownersip.

2. Why would a pro-Brexit Conservative PM want to take railways back into public ownership anyway?

Originally Posted by prasnee

Do you actually know what you are talking about?

Two points:
1. Being in the EU doesn't stop things like railways being taken back into public ownersip.

2. Why would a pro-Brexit Conservative PM want to take railways back into public ownership anyway?

o yes they do and much more besides. why do you think Royal mail was privatised and the pension debt handed over to the public purse. The EU forced us to privatise it.The EU also takes all our import taxes. Thank God we are out.

Originally Posted by gerrard24

o yes they do and much more besides. why do you think Royal mail was privatised and the pension debt handed over to the public purse. The EU forced us to privatise it.

Absolute rubbish! You really mustn't believe everything you read on loony websites.

Originally Posted by gerrard24

Thank God we are out.

Well we are not out, are we?

Originally Posted by gerrard24

Now we are out of the EU we can put the service back into public ownership. See Dr Pugh being out of the EU is not all that bad.

We are not out of the EU yet. You should be saying 'if' and 'when'. It will be many years before we are.

Originally Posted by Foxriver7

We are not out of the EU yet. You should be saying 'if' and 'when'. It will be many years before we are.

The people have spoken and we are out of the EUSSR. Get over it the EUSSR is History.watch as the EUSSR implodes and people of Europe get Freedom.

Originally Posted by prasnee

Absolute rubbish! You really mustn't believe everything you read on loony websites.

Well we are not out, are we?

I thought the remainders were intelligent. look up EUSSR laws and see for yourself. I could go deeper into why the EUSSR is both un democratic and run by the big corporation's but seeing your reply this is a bit too much for you.