The longer-term performance problems in the Manchester area following the opening of the Ordsall chord and the related May 2018 timetable changes were analysed in a Network Rail report summarised in the November issue (page 6). While the initial problems last year, reflecting a shortage of Northern drivers with the right route knowledge and ridiculously short turnrounds for TransPennine Express (TPE) services at Manchester Airport, have been resolved, punctuality and reliability remain abysmal. It’s scandalous that a major, much heralded infrastructure project should have delivered such a dreadful result.
In business terms, Manchester Airport station, opened in 1993, has been increasingly successful. The number of journeys through the station rose by almost 10% in 2017-18 to 4.65 million, getting on for double the number for Hull, and comparable to Chester, or both Bradford stations combined. The Office for Rail and Road has not yet published results for 2018-19 – these may be down because of the 2018 performance problems. Right from the start, trains from Leeds and beyond, reversing in Manchester Piccadilly, were the star performers. Inevitably these services involved conflicting moves in the Picca…
