Stop downgrading public transport in Greater Manchester
The Issue
Much of the North of England is currently faced with a poor rail network due to the lack of trains which are up to standard. The Pacer is something which is all to familiar and we have been promised that these will be scrapped and we will be given 120 brand-new carriages. But how can we expect these trains to no longer be apart of our commute when it has been revealed that the Class 323 train which is pictured above is being taken away for use in the West Midlands. The Class 323 is an electric train which is used on routes from Manchester Piccadilly frequently, 17 of these trains will be lost. This means that once again we are being put behind everybody else and will have to continue to use noisy diesel trains which are polluting the north. Is this really the Northern Powerhouse the government promised us? Or is this the government once again failing to deliver?
Q - What will be replacing these trains?
A - It really is hard to know. First Transpennine Express recently had their Class 170 trains taken off them which has greatly reduced capacity on their network. Have we been sent any replacements? No. To try and maintain network integrity FTPE are leasing old trains from Northern Rail on which they can not provide services they were previously able to. Whilst we are due 20, Class 319 trains which were built over 25 years ago, this will now simply replace the fleet of trains we are going to loose rather than expanding the 'Northern Powerhouse' which the government promised.
Q - Who is to blame for this?
A - People are usually quick to point the finger at the Train Operating companies such as Northern Rail and FTPE however they have very little say. Leasing firm Porterbrooks are the people taking our trains away, but why aren't the government stopping them from doing so?
Q - Don't the Pacers have to leave service due to law changes?
A - Yes the Pacer will be forced to leave service. However how are 120 carriages going to replace 96 full trains when you consider a class 319 has four carriages? Service frequency will have to be vastly reduced.
Q - When will this take affect?
A - They are due to be taken out of service in April.
Q - What routes will be affected.
A - Crewe via Handforth and Manchester Airport; to Stoke via Macclesfield and to Hattersley via Glossop and Hadfield.
Q - What is the aim of this petition?
A - This is not just about the 323 being taken away. However we want these trains replacing with more electric trains of which are not going to be subtracted from the 'Northern Powerhouse' proposal and give the same reliability and service that the 323s do. This petition goes further than that thought. This is about transport in the city and the north as a whole not being looked at in the correct light by the government. Read the following article about what the Guardian describes as the 'Northern Powercut' - http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/the-northerner/2015/jun/25/northern-powerhouse-tories-transpennine-sheffield-mainline-upgrades-cancelled
Petition Closed
The Issue
Much of the North of England is currently faced with a poor rail network due to the lack of trains which are up to standard. The Pacer is something which is all to familiar and we have been promised that these will be scrapped and we will be given 120 brand-new carriages. But how can we expect these trains to no longer be apart of our commute when it has been revealed that the Class 323 train which is pictured above is being taken away for use in the West Midlands. The Class 323 is an electric train which is used on routes from Manchester Piccadilly frequently, 17 of these trains will be lost. This means that once again we are being put behind everybody else and will have to continue to use noisy diesel trains which are polluting the north. Is this really the Northern Powerhouse the government promised us? Or is this the government once again failing to deliver?
Q - What will be replacing these trains?
A - It really is hard to know. First Transpennine Express recently had their Class 170 trains taken off them which has greatly reduced capacity on their network. Have we been sent any replacements? No. To try and maintain network integrity FTPE are leasing old trains from Northern Rail on which they can not provide services they were previously able to. Whilst we are due 20, Class 319 trains which were built over 25 years ago, this will now simply replace the fleet of trains we are going to loose rather than expanding the 'Northern Powerhouse' which the government promised.
Q - Who is to blame for this?
A - People are usually quick to point the finger at the Train Operating companies such as Northern Rail and FTPE however they have very little say. Leasing firm Porterbrooks are the people taking our trains away, but why aren't the government stopping them from doing so?
Q - Don't the Pacers have to leave service due to law changes?
A - Yes the Pacer will be forced to leave service. However how are 120 carriages going to replace 96 full trains when you consider a class 319 has four carriages? Service frequency will have to be vastly reduced.
Q - When will this take affect?
A - They are due to be taken out of service in April.
Q - What routes will be affected.
A - Crewe via Handforth and Manchester Airport; to Stoke via Macclesfield and to Hattersley via Glossop and Hadfield.
Q - What is the aim of this petition?
A - This is not just about the 323 being taken away. However we want these trains replacing with more electric trains of which are not going to be subtracted from the 'Northern Powerhouse' proposal and give the same reliability and service that the 323s do. This petition goes further than that thought. This is about transport in the city and the north as a whole not being looked at in the correct light by the government. Read the following article about what the Guardian describes as the 'Northern Powercut' - http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/the-northerner/2015/jun/25/northern-powerhouse-tories-transpennine-sheffield-mainline-upgrades-cancelled
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Petition created on 25 August 2015