Yahoo News Tackle overcrowding by 'hiding' trains from passengers, Government suggests
Overcrowding on trains could be tackled by ‘hiding’ busy services from passengers and not displaying them on arrivals boards, the Government has suggested.
The idea came in a new Government document, which looked at ways to improve the Cross Country rail network, the UK’s most extensive rail franchise.
It suggested that some of the busiest trains on the network should be changes to ‘drop off only’ services and should be kept off arrivals boards to stop people trying to get on.
However the report admitted that it would be ‘difficult to prevent passengers knowing about such calls and boarding anyway.’
The Cross Country network, which serves seven out of the UK’s ten largest cities in, has faced major issues with overcrowding.
The report says: ‘Research shows that Cross Country passengers are most dissatisfied with
on-board crowding.
‘There are also issues with a lack of luggage space, inconsistent catering provision (often a direct consequence of crowding), the comfort and cleanliness of trains, and low staff availability at stations.’
The Department for Transport is now conducting a consultation into the franchise’s future.
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It comes as chaotic services and cancellations continue to plague Northern Rail, with under-fire transport secretary Chris Grayling set to face a protest by rail workers.
The Rail, Maritime and Transport union said its members will try to meet the minister at a regional transport summit in Manchester later this month.
Northern services have suffered delays and cancellations since new timetables were introduced last month, while the RMT is embroiled in a long-running dispute over the role of guards.
The union has announced three more strikes for this month.
RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: “We have seen over the past three weeks that Northern is a company which has declared war on its passengers and staff alike.
“RMT will not stand aside while the threat to axe safety critical guards from Northern services remains central to the company plans.
“This company has reduced the timetable to total chaos and the union will not allow them to slash the safety culture to ribbons in the same fashion.
“We are calling out Chris Grayling, who has presided over the rail chaos, and will be taking frontline rail workers to meet with him at this northern event.”
Mick Whelan, general secretary of the train drivers union Aslef, said: “Theresa May and the Transport Secretary, referred to by colleagues in the Conservative Party these days as Failing Grayling, are badly letting down passengers in the north of England.
“The fault lies with Mr Grayling, the Department for Transport, Network Rail and Northern Rail, which does not employ enough drivers to deliver the service it promised in its franchise application.
“It started training drivers – giving drivers the route knowledge they need – far too late. It makes a mockery of the idea of a Northern Powerhouse. The lack of investment in rail in the north is an utter disgrace.”
