Stunell condemns the treatment of commuters

5.05.17pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 12th Feb 2008

A three year delay in improving overcrowded rail commuter services in the region has angered local MP, Andrew Stunell. The Liberal Democrat MP has joined together with 20 other North West MPs who are calling for additional rolling stock and trains for the thousands of passengers who have to endure horribly cramped conditions on the way to and from work every day - and that's if they can get on the train!

Commenting on the situation, the Hazel Grove MP said:

"The Buxton to Manchester and Blackpool service is a by-word for poor service and over-crowding. Commuters from Hazel Grove station can literally be left standing on the platform at peak times. This is absolutely unacceptable. They have tried to improve punctuality by running the route in two sections, but the fact is that there are not enough carriages to service the number of people who use the line.

"With congestion on the roads locally having risen by gigawatts in the last decade, more and more people are ready to take the option of the train, but while the Government says it wants people to use public transport more, this case shows just what that commitment really means. With services like these, no wonder people are still using their cars and producing green house gas emissions.

"We need a better solution to the problem of inadequate public transport. In the meantime the Government needs to work with rail operators to rent extra stock to make up capacity. But this should not disguise the fact that our rail system is a mess, and that the Government is not fixing it".

ENDS

Note to editors:

1. Andrew Stunell MP has signed the following Early Day Motion 717

That this House notes the difficulties of overcrowding experienced by commuters using the Blackpool to Manchester rail service; recognises that this problem has a knock-on effect on rail users in rural areas and smaller villages as trains do not stop at such stations in order to increase their capacity for busier stations; welcomes the proposals being put forward by rail operators to increase the number of rail services in addition to increasing the number of units per train to help accommodate the increased demand, but recognises that this new capacity will not come on stream for at least three years; and calls on the Government to work with the rail operators to lease additional trains and rolling stock as a short term measure to help ease overcrowding before the proposed increased capacity comes into operation.