George sets May deadline for ‘fessing up
SERVICE ENHANCEMENTS planned through the Northern and TransPennine Express franchises may have to be deferred due to capacity constraints. In particular, ambitions to introduce an extra three trains per hour on the Castlefield corridor in Manchester are likely to be deferred because ‘the existing infrastructure is insufficient to allow the reliable operation of those extra services’.
Reports to Transport for the North’s board meeting on 7 February outline work carried out by Richard George to assess how to improve performance across the North of England, in response to the dip in performance following the May 2018 timetable change. The report explains Mr George’s initial findings in November identified that the region has a much busier railway and requires greater operating discipline, while significant capacity issues ‘will become worse as additional services are added’. Mr George also highlighted that centralisation has reduced the level of local knowledge.
TfN is participating in two cross-industry workstreams, led by the Department for Transport, to resolve current congestion issues in central Manchester and Leeds. The report to the TfN meeting explains the focus is on identifying what infrastructure would need to be provided to allow the reliable operation of existing services, both passenger and freight, and to cater for the additional services which are committed in the Northern franchise agreement and which freight operators are pursuing.
In terms of the Castlefield corridor from Deansgate Junction to Manchester Piccadilly, the report notes the section has until recently carried 13 passenger services and one freight train each hour. Under the expansion of services contracted through the Northern and TPE franchise agreements the number of passenger services was due to rise to 16 trains per hour in December. Among options being pursued is discussion with freight operators to consider if alternative freight paths are available to serve Trafford Park, although it is noted that most freight services have firm access rights that cannot be rescinded without operator agreement.
In a presentation given to the 7 February meeting, Richard George also told the TfN board no additional paths should be planned on other key corridors, including Leeds to York. He suggested the aim should be to publish when all new service promises will be met (and which will not be met) by May this year. He also seeks a ‘seamless’ May timetable change, noting that while schedule changes will be limited there will be risks from introduction of new rolling stock and associated traincrew changes. Other recommendations included a review of depot and stabling investment, station dispatch training at many stations, a ‘one team’ approach at Manchester Piccadilly to improve communications and governance revision.
