Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Northern Rail cancellations: 80 trains axed as timetable curtailed for third Sunday running

‘We are advising anyone thinking of travelling on Sunday on these routes to plan their journey carefully’

Eleanor Barlow
Sunday 12 August 2018 06:34 EDT
Comments
A Northern train at Liverpool South Parkway station
A Northern train at Liverpool South Parkway station (PA)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Cancellations to Northern Rail services for a third Sunday running have been described as “chaotic and unacceptable” in a letter to the rail operator from the deputy mayor of Greater Manchester.

Baroness Beverley Hughes has written to managing director of Northern David Brown after the company announced a third successive week of Sunday service cancellations.

On Friday, the operator said it expected 80 of the scheduled 1,500 train services on Sunday not to run.

It said ongoing engineering projects in Liverpool, Greater Manchester and Lancashire had caused “severe difficulties around the short-notice scheduling” of train crews.

In the letter, Baroness Hughes said: “As you are no doubt aware the mayor has had to write to you, the secretary of state for transport and Transport for the North on a number of occasions over the past several months, and has also written to the prime minister, regarding what has been a chaotic and unacceptable situation.

“It is disappointing that once again we are having to contact you directly regarding Northern’s services failing to meet an adequate standard.”

She asked for reassurances that services would run the following Sunday, questioned what urgent steps were being taken to address staff shortages and asked what compensation would be available for travellers affected by cancellations, which are expected to include some services between Liverpool and Manchester airport.

Northern has said anyone whose journey is delayed by 30 minutes or more can apply for compensation.

A spokesman for the rail operator said: “We are sorry that our customers continue to experience some disruption to their weekend services.

“We are advising anyone thinking of travelling on Sunday on these routes to plan their journey carefully.”

Northern slashed nearly 170 services a day – 6 per cent of the total – in early June after a new timetable introduced in May resulted in significant disruption for passengers.

The operator reintroduced three-quarters of the cancelled services last month but commuters have continued to experience problems on the network.

Press Association

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in