ONE IN TEN NORTHERN RAIL TRAINS WERE "LATE" IN THE LAST YEAR

11.21.00am GMT Tue 9th Mar 2010

One in ten Northern Rail Trains were at least ten minutes late getting to their destination according to new figures highlighted by Hazel Grove MP Andrew Stunell.

77,156 trains were late by ten minutes or more in arriving to their destination, whilst a further 6,920 were cancelled.

The latest figures come as a further blow to local rail users, who are already having to cope with chronic overcrowding on local commuter services during rush hour. Now Mr Stunell wants to see Northern Rail get to grips with the crisis, and provide commuters with a less crowded, and more consistent service.

Commenting, Andrew Stunell said:

"Even when every service is running commuters on the Hazel Grove and Marple lines are packed in like sardines. Whenever trains are cancelled or delayed that gets worse.

"People are being left on the platform at peak times, and Northern Rail must do more to keep its trains running, and keep them punctual. It's not just commuters who lose out, but so does our environment if the only alternative left is to hop in the car and drive to work.

"The problems on the Hazel Grove line have been made far worse by the cut from 3-carriage electric trains to 2-carriage diesels last year. When you add to that the growing passenger numbers, and now delays and cancellations, conditions have become impossible.

"We need more carriages and longer trains, as well as a much better service from those we've got now. I am still fighting hard to get the government to give us the trains we need, and for Northern Rail to make sure that the ones we have run on time.

ENDS