This Council recognises the crucial role that railways must play in a prosperous northern economy and the extent to which so many Trafford residents require a modern, efficient, comfortable and punctual rail service to support their professional lives.

Council is alarmed at the continued and accelerated deterioration in Northern Rail services in Trafford following the introduction of a new timetable on May 20, particularly on the Flixton/Urmston and Altrincham lines, as well as more generally across the North West.

Council considers the overcrowding and delays experienced by passengers are a failure of both a flawed franchise regime, and of a Conservative Government that has contemptuously reneged on election manifesto pledges to deliver investment whilst ignoring warnings that the timetable changes would bring chaos.

Council therefore resolves to instruct the Leader to write to the Prime Minister to demand that:

•       Government recommits to the Northern Powerhouse.

•       Government takes immediate action to take back the Northern Rail franchise into public owned operation.

•       Secretary of State for Transport, Chris Grayling is removed from his role as it is clear he has lost the confidence of rail users in the north; and it is vital that we have a Secretary of State that values the North of England.

It was moved and seconded that:

“This Council recognises the crucial role that railways must play in a prosperous northern economy and the extent to which so many Trafford residents require a modern, efficient, comfortable and punctual rail service to support their professional lives.

Council is alarmed at the continued and accelerated deterioration in Northern Rail services in Trafford following the introduction of a new timetable on May 20, particularly on the Flixton/Urmston and Altrincham lines, as well as more generally across the North West.

Council considers the overcrowding and delays experienced by passengers are a failure of both a flawed franchise regime, and of a Conservative Government that has contemptuously reneged on election manifesto pledges to deliver investment whilst ignoring warnings that the timetable changes would bring chaos.

Council therefore resolves to instruct the Leader to write to the Prime Minister to demand that:

•       Government recommits to the Northern Powerhouse.

•       Government takes immediate action to take back the Northern Rail franchise into public owned operation.

•       Secretary of State for Transport, Chris Grayling is removed from his role as it is clear he has lost the confidence of rail users in the north; and it is vital that we have a Secretary of State that values the North of England.”

It was moved and seconded as an amendment that:

“This Council recognises the crucial role that railways must play in a prosperous northern economy and the extent to which so many Trafford residents require a modern, efficient, comfortable and punctual rail service to support their professional lives.

Council is concerned about the recent deterioration in Northern Rail services in Trafford following the introduction of a new timetable on May 20, particularly on the Flixton/Urmston and Altrincham lines, as well as more generally across the North West.

Council considers that the overcrowding and delays experienced by passengers are as a result of number of factors, many outside of Northern Rail’s control.

Council welcomes the Government’s recovery plan to tackle disruption to services following the greatest timetable change for a generation, providing hundreds of new services, and as the government carries out the biggest modernisation of the rail network since Victorian times to improve rail travel for passengers across the region.

Council therefore resolves to instruct the Leader to write to the Prime Minister to:

•       Ask the Government to reaffirm its commitment to the Northern Powerhouse.

•       Ask the Government to prioritise the North of England for future rail infrastructure investment.

•       Welcome the multi-million investment into new trains for Northern Rail and TransPennine Express.

•       Welcome the introduction of hundreds of new rail services throughout the North West.

•              Ask the Government to ensure improving train services across the North is the number one priority for the Department for Transport.”

Following a debate on the matter, the amendment was put to the vote and declared lost. The substantive Motion was then put to the vote and declared carried.

RESOLVED: That this Council recognises the crucial role that railways must play in a prosperous northern economy and the extent to which so many Trafford residents require a modern, efficient, comfortable and punctual rail service to support their professional lives.

Council is alarmed at the continued and accelerated deterioration in Northern Rail services in Trafford following the introduction of a new timetable on May 20, particularly on the Flixton/Urmston and Altrincham lines, as well as more generally across the North West.

Council considers the overcrowding and delays experienced by passengers are a failure of both a flawed franchise regime, and of a Conservative Government that has contemptuously reneged on election manifesto pledges to deliver investment whilst ignoring warnings that the timetable changes would bring chaos.

Council therefore resolves to instruct the Leader to write to the Prime Minister to demand that:

•       Government recommits to the Northern Powerhouse.

•       Government takes immediate action to take back the Northern Rail franchise into public owned operation.

•       Secretary of State for Transport, Chris Grayling is removed from his role as it is clear he has lost the confidence of rail users in the north; and it is vital that we have a Secretary of State that values the North of England.