Opposition mounts against proposed suspension of Marple rail service

Opposition is growing against Norther Rail’s plans to temporarily withdraw services between Rose Hill Marple and Manchester Piccadilly stations, the Manchester Evening News has reported.

Northern Rail has planned to suspend services between September and mid-December on the line from Rose Hill Marple to Manchester in order to manage staffing levels at the rail operator due to the impact of Covid-19, citing both a training backlog and a need to protect vulnerable staff members. Services from Woodley station, would also be withdrawn completely, as well as from Hyde North, Hyde Central and Fairfield stations in Tameside.

In response to the proposed cuts, a cross-party group of Stockport and Tameside MPs and local councillors has written to Northern Rail to share concerns. A petition against the proposals, circulated by Stockport Council’s Liberal Democrats has also gathered over 5,000 signatures from local residents.

In comments made to local politicians and reported in a Facebook post by Denton and Reddish MP, Andrew Gwynne, it was confirmed that the suspension of services would be temporary, and that Northern was in dialogue with other transport operators to ensure season ticket holders could travel at no extra cost on local bus and tram links. A shuttle bus was also being provided between Rose Hill, Marple and Romiley stations, with an additional call in Woodley for schoolchildren.

Concerns have also been raised that in removing the services from Marple, there could be overcrowding on rail and other public transport routes at peak times. However, the rail operator is confident that passengers can be accommodated safely. Northern will also use the closure to complete station upgrades along the route.

In comments made to the MEN, Northern’s regional director Chris Jackson said:

We have done all we can to continue to provide the best possible service for customers across the network, but we still have members of staff shielding and the knock-on effects of the virus will be felt for many months.

“As we work towards reintroducing services and re-instate our driving training programme, we have had to make some very tough decisions and one of those is to suspend our timetable to and from Rose Hill.

“This will provide the flexibility amongst train crew and trains themselves to protect the reliability of services across the rest of Manchester and beyond.

“I completely understand this may frustrate customers on that route, but it was chosen carefully as the route has other excellent public transport links and several nearby stations which will still have a good service to and from Manchester.”

Northern Rail was brought under government control in March following consistent poor punctuality and reliability prior to the Covid-19 pandemic.