First posted: 26 September 2001 Updated: 5 October 2001
Writer: John Freeman
With thanks to Jonathan Sears for information.

RAIL TRAVEL WORSENS FOR ALL FROM LANCASTER AND MORECAMBE

Lancaster's Green Party has revealed that according to a new survey based on research of the Railtrack winter time table, Lancaster's Sunday rail service is England's worst. Of over 101 principal stations analysed Lancaster come in at 100, which has a knock on effect for Morecambe, also.

Only services from Fort William in the Scottish Highlands keeps passengers kept waiting longer. Throughout the country, the Sunday service begins later than on other days, but despite this, 50 per cent of principal stations have a service before 8.15am, 75 per cent by 9.15am and 90 per cent by 10.15am.

Apparently, Lancaster has been affected by the unique way in which engineering work is organised in the area since before privatisation. Blanket line closures are imposed by Railtrack every weekend except in the Summer. However the service has become even worse than is permitted under the Passenger Service Requirement , and Virgin Trains will not be providing any substitute bus services until January, when the weekend train service is set to deteriorate even further.

"Railtrack is not acting in the interests of the travelling public by imposing these blanket closures on the line," Green Party County Councillor Jonathan Sear commented. "I cannot believe that closing the line between Oxenholme and Preston on 35 Sundays every year is unavoidable.
"If the Government wants to allow Railtrack to remain a private company it must ensure that the Strategic Rail Authority has the clout to insist on engineering work being carried out in a way that minimises disruption.
"In the short term. the Green Party will be campaigning for a rail replacement bus, or a shuttle train whenever possible, to be provided between Lancaster and Preston on Sunday mornings. However once the modernisation of the West Coast Main Line is completed in 2003 we want a commitment to a proper Sunday service.
"The days when no-one wanted to travel anywhere on a Sunday are over. Lancaster has put up with the worst service in the country for too long. It is time for the rail industry to move into the 21st century."
Responding to a letter of complaint about the engineering works Railtrack"s Zone Director Mike Cowman effectively dismissed the problems the works caused train services as not Railtrack's problem. "The engineering work north of Preston is organised in much the same way as it has been for at least the last forty years - there is, however, some extensive work replacing the junction at Carnforth at the turn of the year which is affecting the Lancaster area."

The Green Party and other concerned local groups are asking rail users to write letters of complaint as soon as possible to protest the changes in the timetable, which come on top of excessive early morning rail fares and other complaints about the privatised rail services.

WHO TO WRITE TO

Your Local MP
Contact your local MP about rail travel, explaining what you think is wrong and what should be done.

Write to your MP at:
The House of Commons
Westminster
London
SW1 0AA

Given the state of the rail industry, it will not surprise you that there are several people involved:

The Strategic Rail Authority

Responsible for ensuring that current Passenger Service Requirements are met (which say, for example that we should be able to get to London by 5.00pm on a Sunday), and for any improvements that might be made as part of the refranchising processes.

Write to:
The Director
Strategic Rail Authority
55 Victoria Street,
London
SW1H 0EU

Virgin Trains

Virgin would like to run trains earlier on Sundays, but clearly hasn't pushed Railtrack hard enough on this. They may not have considered extending services beyond Preston to Lancaster/ Oxenholme, which might be more easily achieved.

Write to:
Chris Green
Chief Executive
Virgin Trains
85 Smallbrook Queensway
Birmingham
B5 4HA

Railtrack NorthWest

Responsible for the blanket winter line closures.

Write to:
Mike Cowman
Managing Director
Railtrack North West Zone
Rail House
Store Street
Manchester
M60 7RT


Rail Passengers Committee for North Western England

Represents rail passengers. If they get a few letters they will hopefully take up the issue - and the various fragments of rail industry do seem to listen to them.

John Moorhouse Secretary
Rail Passengers Committee for North Western England
Fifth Floor
Boulton House
17 - 21 Chorlton Street
Manchester
M60 7RT

TOP