Following Northern’s announcement to cut train services from Manchester Piccadilly to Rose Hill Marple stations, local councillors and MPs have agreed a proposal to ensure connectivity can continue.
Northern Rail had planned to suspend services between 14th September and mid-December on the line from Rose Hill Marple to Manchester, also affecting Woodley station, and Hyde North, Hyde Central and Fairfield stations in Tameside. Northern blamed the need to cancel services on shortages of train drivers as a result of missed training and higher staff absence rates due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Following lobbying of the rail company from Cllr David Meller, Cabinet Member for Economy and Regeneration, and local MPs William Wragg and Andrew Gwynne, Northern Trains will keep two return services running to Rose Hill with an additional 90-minute service promised on the 26th October. The move will see:
- An 08.05 from Manchester Piccadilly to Rose Hill calling at Gorton, Guide Bridge, Hyde North, Hyde Central, Woodley and Romiley;
- That train will then depart Rose Hill at 08.52, taking the route of the 08.54 Marple to Piccadilly service without serving Marple station;
- The 1419 from Piccadilly to New Mills Central would be diverted to Rose Hill, no longer calling at Marple, Strines and New Mills;
- This would then form a 1514 Rose Hill to Piccadilly service (the 1534 New Mills Central to Piccadilly would be cancelled);
- Then, from 26th October, a new 90-minute service would be introduced from Rose Hill to Piccadilly (via the Hyde loop).
Local Liberal Democrat councillors have also secured an agreement in principle using funds from their member budgets to fund the service for one week, aiming to demonstrate a commercial viability and secure an alternative provider to run the line. However, following the new agreement with Stockport Council, Cllr David Meller stated he now does not expect this to go ahead. He said:
Common sense has prevailed and we have delivered a positive outcome for residents. I look forward to working with Northern and local MPs as we move towards restoring a full service as soon as possible, while considering Northern’s position of having fewer drivers available at this time.”
Commenting on the reinstatement of services, Transport for the North’s Strategic Rail Director, David Hoggarth said:
We understand that the background to the original decision by Northern is complex, and reflects the extreme stresses now being placed on the operator while trying to maintain a reliable railway service under severe constraints during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“However, we made our concerns clear about the proposed withdrawal of this service even if the decision was taken as part of an emergency timetable and as part of the coronavirus response.
“This is a step forward, but we expect the full normal timetable to be restored as soon as possible and will continue to push for service restoration to commence at the earliest feasible date whilst still delivering a reliable service. We will be monitoring Northern’s progress very closely.”