Latest news with #CraigHarrop
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Northern bosses promise 'substantial improvement'
Bosses of the rail company Northern have promised a "substantial improvement" in services across Lancashire. In a meeting with the leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council and Northern, councillor Phil Riley said there was a recognition that the current level of cancellations and unreliability of service was unacceptable, particularly at weekends. He met Craig Harrop, north-west regional director for Northern and Owain Roberts, its regional stakeholder manager, alongside Lancashire County Council's rail development manager, Mike Cliffe. The company executives said the key issues included resolving long-running industrial disputes and investing in training. Mr Harrop said a shortage of conductors had contributed to high cancellation rates which Northern was addressing by recruiting and training new ones. He also highlighted plans to enhance services starting with the introduction of a seven-day service, speed up the training of new drivers and to scrap the controversial practice of planned cancellations. Mr Riley, who also chairs Lancashire's new combined county authority's Transport Board, said: "It was good to meet Northern senior management and to convey the ongoing concerns from local residents about the poor quality of service. "Lots of plans were outlined and we will be meeting again, hopefully, when there have been measurable improvements." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X, and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer. Trains face delays over Sunday workers shortage
BBC News
27-02-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Northern promises 'improvement' to Lancashire rail services
Bosses of the rail company Northern have promised a "substantial improvement" in services across a meeting with the leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council and Northern, councillor Phil Riley said there was a recognition that the current level of cancellations and unreliability of service was unacceptable, particularly at weekends. He met Craig Harrop, north-west regional director for Northern and Owain Roberts, its regional stakeholder manager, alongside Lancashire County Council's rail development manager, Mike company executives said the key issues included resolving long-running industrial disputes and investing in training. Mr Harrop said a shortage of conductors had contributed to high cancellation rates which Northern was addressing by recruiting and training new also highlighted plans to enhance services starting with the introduction of a seven-day service, speed up the training of new drivers and to scrap the controversial practice of planned cancellations. Mr Riley, who also chairs Lancashire's new combined county authority's Transport Board, said: "It was good to meet Northern senior management and to convey the ongoing concerns from local residents about the poor quality of service."Lots of plans were outlined and we will be meeting again, hopefully, when there have been measurable improvements." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X, and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Town waiting 100 years for a connection has been told the wait is about to get longer
Cheadle's 100-year wait for its own train connection could get longer after concerns about delays to the opening of a new station. The Stockport village is set to get a railway station after planning permission was granted last year and Stockport council said the project was 'progressing towards construction on-site.' The town hall said a new rail station in Cheadle will see trains 'stopping in the village for the first time in more than 100 years' after a former station closed in 1917. READ MORE: "It's going down": Derelict bingo hall starts to 'crumble' as huge blaze ravages site READ MORE: Vaping horror as first ever study reveals deadly side effects Bosses hoped the new station would be ready by the end of 2025 - but setbacks mean it could be longer before trains are finally picking up passengers in the area once again. The issue is understood to be around timetable adjustments on the Mid Cheshire line, which Cheadle's new station will join when ready. This links to both Stockport town centre and Manchester Piccadilly, but parts of the line only have a single track, sources said. The mid-Cheshire line is used by Northern Rail services as well as freight trains, and a timetable review is taking place to make sure existing train services using the route are not impacted by the opening of a new station. Craig Harrop, regional director for Northern in the North West, confirmed a 'review of the wider timetable implications along the line' is taking place, and that the train company is working with Stockport council, Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM), and Network Rail to get the station open. Cheadle MP Tom Morrison wrote on Facebook last week that the opening of the new station 'looks to be slightly delayed' due to the extra timetable checks taking place. Afterwards, he told the Manchester Evening News: 'A new railway station for Cheadle is vital, offering better transport links, less congestion, and a boost for our local economy. 'There's no excuse for further delays. I'm pressing ministers, Northern Rail, and local leaders to get this project moving and deliver the station our community was promised as soon as possible.' The site earmarked for the new station is based north of Cheadle High Street, off Manchester Road, with a single platform for trains heading both directions on the line. A £13.9-million funding package was approved for the project in 2022 as part of the previous government's Towns Fund scheme. Coun Grace Baynham, Stockport council's cabinet member for transport, said: 'We continue to work closely with Northern and all partners involved to get Cheadle station delivered for our residents. "We're keen to see progress move at pace and remain committed to ensuring this much-needed station becomes a reality as soon as possible.' A TfGM spokesperson said: 'TfGM is working with Stockport council on the business case and development of plans for a new rail station in Cheadle. In addition, we are liaising with industry partners, including Northern Rail, on a delivery timetable. 'We remain absolutely committed to the new station and to delivering the benefits it will bring to the community as soon as possible.'
