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Published on: 09/02/2021 11:02 AMReported by: roving-eye
The government has been accused of being "up to its old tricks" by trying to remove Southport's direct Manchester Piccadilly rail service for the second time in recent years.
It comes after the Department for Transport (DfT) issued a consultation on services which it's claimed offers little real choice in the matter for the town. Local residents are being asked to respond strongly to the proposals making clear their objections.
Local councillor Greg Myers says that the three options offered in the consultation all result in Southport losing the vital Piccadilly service, describing it as another "con trick" on residents and commuters. He explained:
"In 2018 the DfT was exposed after Freedom of Information requests revealed it had actively conspired to deliberately mislead Southport rail users when it first tried to get rid of this service."
"It was eventually forced to climb down by the efforts of local rail campaigners, the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and a group of Labour MPs, including Lisa Nandy who gave details of the planned deception to Parliament."
"It seems that now a few years have passed the Dft is up to its old tricks and is back to try and finish the job with this supposed consultation, which is little more than a stacked deck against Southport."
"Not one of the options offered sees the direct Southport to Manchester Piccadilly service remain, it's another con trick on local residents and must be strongly resisted."
"It simply beggars belief that a service that was only fully reinstated in December 2019 after a lengthy process that proved its worth is now under threat again from government."
"I've already raised the matter with the city region and Sefton Council who are once again very supportive of Southport after pressing the case last time, as are the Labour MP's, and I am also calling on Southport's MP to work with them to ensure Southport doesn't lose out."
"Sadly, when the deception plan was exposed last time, instead of demanding answers about it and defending local commuters on the matter, Southport's Conservative MP chose to rush to the defence of the Secretary of State for Transport. That simply can't happen again."
"The best way to deal with this is a united front and I'd appeal to Southport's MP to help ensure that this threat from his colleagues in government is removed from the town's Piccadilly service by supporting the local authority and city region in this."
"I would also appeal to residents to respond to the consultation and making known their feelings over this threat to a vital transport link for the town."
"It's a simple email response that's required and the address is contained in the consultation details."
Whatever Party is in power Southport is the last resort, the electorate swings between Tory and Lib Dem the latter are history so the Tories can do what they want here and the sheep will still follow. The Tories swapped us from Lancashire to Merseyside pre 74 to give some Tory input in local politics and we have been crapped on from a great height ever since by the Tory Party and by the Sefton Politbureau so why should things change where is the successor to Screaming Lord Sutch we couldn't do any worse.
It is ridiculous blaming any particular person or party over this issue. The fact is that Manchester Railways consist only of two track lines which have to feed a large number of directions. By running a large number of trains in one direction severely obstructs other lines. The North West is now to benefit from the high speed trains from the South. Manchester is a very busy and important connection. The demand is going to increase substantially.
Southport has seen an increase in the number of housing projects in the local area. With no work available it is obvious that the roads are becoming far more congested than ever before. The need for a good economic train service is essential if the town is to survive.
Manchester Railway system should, as a priority, be modernised in conjunction with the new high speed train system. There should be a complete focus on installing a full and efficient underground system as a matter of some urgency which Councillors of all parties should be promoting strongly.
I understand that some years ago, work was started on creating an underground system - but then it was decided that the costs did not justify the means. Things have changed now - Manchester urgently requires an underground system - it will alleviate the pressure on the main railway lines, provide faster commuting times and save money in the long run. Even if it does mean that Manchester Gateway will have to be demolished.
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gnalist says:09/02/2021 03:46 PM
Originally Posted by said
It is ridiculous blaming any particular person or party over this issue.... .
What's ridiculous is your attempt to swerve away from the fact that this government for the second time in just a few years is trying to take away this service from Southport, and both times has tried to mask what it is really up to and hoodwink local residents and commuters.
Those who instead of trying to make excuses for them (yet again in Said's case) want to tell the Department for Transport a very clear HANDS OFF our direct Manchester Piccadilly service should reply via the email address supplied towards the end of the page on this consultation link: https://www.gov.uk/government/consul...rth-of-england
What's ridiculous is your attempt to swerve away from the fact that this government for the second time in just a few years is trying to take away this service from Southport, and both times has tried to mask what it is really up to and hoodwink local residents and commuters.
Those who instead of trying to make excuses for them (yet again in Said's case) want to tell the Department for Transport a very clear HANDS OFF our direct Manchester Piccadilly service should reply via the email address supplied towards the end of the page on this consultation link: https://www.gov.uk/government/consul...rth-of-england
Surely if enough people used it, it wouldn't be under threat because it would be paying its way?
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gnalist says:09/02/2021 07:55 PM
Originally Posted by ECHOEONE
Surely if enough people used it, it wouldn't be under threat because it would be paying its way?
Not really, it proved its worth last time.
Basically, it's all down to congestions problems in the Castlefield Corridor and what that needs is investment to sort... so instead they are looking to restrict usage on it for a cheap fix - which means we are in danger of losing out at the expense of other areas because they are trying to dress it up as a "consultation" but one in which the questions are essentially loaded and with options that all result in the loss of the service.
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Little Londoner says:09/02/2021 08:57 PM
Originally Posted by said
It is ridiculous blaming any particular person or party over this issue. The fact is that Manchester Railways consist only of two track lines which have to feed a large number of directions. By running a large number of trains in one direction severely obstructs other lines. The North West is now to benefit from the high speed trains from the South. Manchester is a very busy and important connection. The demand is going to increase substantially.
Southport has seen an increase in the number of housing projects in the local area. With no work available it is obvious that the roads are becoming far more congested than ever before. The need for a good economic train service is essential if the town is to survive.
Manchester Railway system should, as a priority, be modernised in conjunction with the new high speed train system. There should be a complete focus on installing a full and efficient underground system as a matter of some urgency which Councillors of all parties should be promoting strongly.
I understand that some years ago, work was started on creating an underground system - but then it was decided that the costs did not justify the means. Things have changed now - Manchester urgently requires an underground system - it will alleviate the pressure on the main railway lines, provide faster commuting times and save money in the long run. Even if it does mean that Manchester Gateway will have to be demolished.
Thanks for that I knew nothing whatsoever about railways especially the Manchester area. Pray tell us all about the Manchester Gateway which is going to be demolished is that before it gets built or after.
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Little Londoner says:09/02/2021 09:00 PM
Originally Posted by ECHOEONE
Surely if enough people used it, it wouldn't be under threat because it would be paying its way?
Northern have cancelled half their services because they were empty it is that what do you call it oh yes LOCKDOWN. No one is traveling at the moment only Key workers.
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ECHOEONE says:10/02/2021 05:52 PM
Originally Posted by Little Londoner
Northern have cancelled half their services because they were empty it is that what do you call it oh yes LOCKDOWN. No one is traveling at the moment only Key workers.
Yes your point is correct as of Covid impact. I do recall though that it has been under threat for decades due to low passenger numbers?
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