Today I attended the DfT and Rail North’s consultation meeting on the Northern and TransPennine Express franchise renewals. This was in York. The RMT were picketing the office building where the meeting was held. I had a good chat with the guys and we swopped leaflets. We don’t agree on everything but we have many shared concerns.
In the meeting itself I asked about extending the Liverpool – Newcastle TPE services on to Morpeth, to augment the existing hourly Newcastle – Morpeth service and provide a combined 30 minute frequency for Cramlington and Morpeth. I thought this proposal got a fair hearing. It is not unreasonable.
Then I asked about setting a minimum list of facilities for all stations which should include some means of communicating with customers – such as CIS. The DfT were not positive saying that technology would move on during the life of the franchise. “Don’t specify the technology, just the result” I countered. In London, live next bus information is even displayed at bus stops; it is a pity that here in the north doing it for trains at unstaffed railway stations defeats us.
Though apparently, Rail North are putting together a list of minimum standards for stations. Let’s hope they at least pick this up. And their list becomes mandatory rather than just recommendations.
