Graham reports back from Friends of Scholes Park meeting
Cheadle and Gatley Liberal Democrats
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Graham reports back from Friends of Scholes Park meeting
Gatley's Lucy Boxes
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How can our train system not do this in 2017?
by Lib Dem team on 19 September, 2017
In 2017 how can we have a train system where you can use an app to buy tickets on your smartphone, and it works for some journeys, but for others the apps says “You need to pick up your tickets from this station several miles away”? You can’t even get them from the Gatley ticket office. Crazy.
There’s a brilliant assessment of the new ‘My Get Me There’ card/app too here: https://startupsventurecapital.com/a-beginners-guide-to-using-my-get-me-there-manchester-s-hilarious-attempt-at-reinventing-london-s-70a6d1dde246
Unfortunately with central government having privatised public transport everywhere apart from London I think we’re stuck with awful public transport unless we get a government willing to either re-nationalise public transport (and fund it properly!) or legislate to force the private operators to co-operate and provide an adequate level of service.
I’m certainly no communist, but even I can see that central planning of public transport makes more sense than the piece-meal nonsense we currently have!
I don’t know why nationalisation is such a dirty word her, In most places, a nationalised railway works well, they even have a nationalised service in that communist nation in the Americas, what’s its called again? Oh yes, the USA.
Regulation would work fine. London has 16 different bus companies running routes, but because they’re all strictly regulated and running under TfL colours, it works well.
I regularly go to London to visit family and use their buses regularly (free being an OAP) and I must say that their network is fantastic. Really impressed.
Better the Government (whichever) poured the money into regional transport improvements that this ludicrous HS scheme. Went to London for a wedding the other week. 3.04 from Stockport. Train on time. Approx. 2 hours. Got the 9.42 back. On time. 2 hours. Are all those billions for a marginally quicker service really going to make a difference tot he north-west economy? I’m for improved links between the cities and towns up in ‘t north.
HS2 is all about capacity rather than time. The argument is that the West Coast Mainline will run out of capacity in the next few years so you can either upgrade it with lots of expense and disruption, or you can build a new line alongside it with a bit more expense but a lot less disruption.
If I had the choice, I’d improve the links between northern cities first, though. The government scrapping electrification up here and then giving the green light to Crossrail2 was a kick in the teeth for the North.
Absolutely right Robert! Saving a few minutes on a journey from London to Birmingham (or Manchester) pales into insignificance by comparison with the need to improve transport links in the North. The high speed enthusiasts have been carried away with this selfish vanity project. And yes, it was initially proposed to save time (the clue is in the name) and only afterwards, in the face of fierce opposition, was the benefit of extra capacity raised. This extra capacity could be realised by re-opening the closed North – South lines which served Manchester and elsewhere without the wholesale disruption to hundreds of peoples’ lives and the countryside along the route. I would advocate the money saved, be spent on the NHS, the Police, the Fire Service, social care and other social services.
I suggest you (and any other like minded people) sign the petition to cancel it at: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/200793
What is meant by capacity?
At the moment there are something like 40 trains per day going to/from London from Manchester.
Having been to London 3/4 times per year I have yet to see a full train.
Apart from “rush hour” trains is there any need for 4 first class carriages when they are virtually empty during the day.
If capacity means a need for more carriages then this should not be a problem.
HS2 is unnecessary to save 20 minutes on a journey when there is already enough spaces on trains, especially when you look at the projected costs — which will be much higher if and when the project starts.
Capacity means space on the trains – not today, but in ten years time assuming numbers continue to increase.
DJ
I think by ‘capacity’ the promoters of the HS2 project mean the number of trains that can be accommodated simultaneously on the WCML system. I absolutely agree that capacity, per train, could be significantly increased by running longer trains. Years ago, 15 coach (and even 17 coach) trains were commonplace whereas now there are far too many 3, 4 and 5 car trains running about on long distance services. Absolutely, these should be extended before building new railway lines!
However, the system ‘capacity’ for freight and other trains which may hold up fast expresses on a well used route, could be increased by re-opening closed lines like the MR route to London, St Pancras by which route many Mancunians made their very picturesque journey through the Peak District. (Remember the ‘Midland Pullman’?). I reckon at least one train per hour (an HST) transferred to this route as happened just prior to the start of ‘Pendolino’ services would be popular, remembering that it would provide direct connections to Chesterfield, Derby, Leicester, etc., presently not available without a time consuming change.
The Woodhead route to Sheffield is another route to London , Marylebone which would be useful, perhaps initially for freight, although some diversions may be necessary where city developments have taken place since closure. However, let’s not forget that the promoters of HS2 have no reservations when it comes to clearing the way for their line.
Yes, lets see some money spent on long overdue railway reconnection in the North – starting with the very modest project of re-opening Cheadle station!