MP says he feels 'optimistic' that Northern Rail will deliver a better service in the new year

High Peak’s MP, Jon Pearce, says he’s ‘optimistic’ that Northern Rail will start to deliver a better service for passengers in the new year after a meeting with the rail company and has vowed to make sure they deliver on their promised improvements. 

The train services in and out the High Peak came under fire recently when the MP stated that ‘livestock are treated better’

Jon demanded talks with the rail company due to growing concerns that they were badly letting down passengers in Glossop, Buxton, New Mills and across the Hope Valley. 

Mr Pearce said: “The level of service has been poor for years. Since the pandemic the number of trains out of Glossop for example has dropped from three to two per hour and that has a major impact when services then start being cancelled and delayed.”

Jon had heard from people who had lost jobs because of the poor service and the cancellations and overcrowding resulted in two passengers fainting on a service to Manchester on 5th November. 

He added: “I put to Northern all of the issues that people in Glossop, Buxton, New Mills and across the Hope Valley have raised with me: the cancellations, the delays and the overcrowding. 

“To be fair to Northern, they took my criticism on the chin. They know that their service isn't good enough and they know that they have got to improve. They reassured me that they have got a plan to deal with the staff capacity issues that they've got, including reducing sickness absence. In December the train fleet size will increase which will help with capacity. 

“In May 2025, new four car electric trains will be on the Glossop line increasing capacity by 100 passengers from the current three car units.

The MP is optimistic that things will change in the new year, he told the Chronicle: “Hopefully with increased staff and train capacity we should start to see less cancellations and a better service in the new year. Then in May the plans for new rolling stock should result in further capacity and a noticeable improvement in the daily commute. 

“There is a long way to go but I won’t let up until we get the service that people in High Peak deserve. I'm going to hold Northern’s feet to the fire and make sure that they deliver the improvements that they have promised us.”