Chamber makes point to TransPennine Express and suggests timetable rethink would be just the ticket

Dr Kelly – making his point on rail links.

THE Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce is calling on TransPennine Express to reconsider its plans to downgrade its services between Hull, Leeds and Manchester.

Chamber Chief Executive Dr Ian Kelly said: “I have written to TransPennine’s Managing Director Leo Goodwin following the revelation that the company is planning to introduce more stops on its Hull to Manchester service which stops at Leeds.

“The Chamber believes good transport links are vital to the economic wellbeing of the Humber region and effective rail links are integral to this. The proposals set out by TransPennine Express effectively worsen, not improve the current service, and we feel this is unacceptable at a time when rail links between the largest cities in the Northern Powerhouse of the country should be improved, and not effectively downgraded. 

“At a time when Hull has increased its national profile as a result of its year as UK City of Culture, which has in turn seen a boost in both tourism and business travel, we feel strongly that nothing should happen which could undermine this growth which is vital for Hull’s continuing renaissance as a destination city. 

“We would also note the rapidly growing renewables industry and feel that direct rails links to Manchester Airport and Liverpool, the renewables hub in the West of the country, would encourage this major long-term industry. 

“The Chamber has previously lobbied for extending the current service beyond Manchester Piccadilly to Manchester Airport and Liverpool. There has also been a consistent view from our members that the frequency of services between Hull and Leeds should be doubled to provide a half-hourly service. 

“The current timetable document is very vague with little detail about Sunday and evening services. The Chamber is therefore disappointed at the proposal to increase the number of stops on the Hull service to 10 intermediate stations as this represents a significant downgrading of what was a ‘fast’ service which originally only stopped at Brough, Selby, Leeds and Huddersfield. 

“More recently stops at Dewsbury and Stalybridge have been introduced. If further stops at Mossley, Slaithwaite, Batley and Garforth every hour are introduced, this will effectively mean that the region’s only service to Leeds and Manchester becomes a “stopping” service. TransPennine claims the journey would only take two minutes longer, but we don’t see how this would be possible with numerous extra stops. 

“The Chamber also highlights that virtually every other Northern conurbation will have a more frequent and faster service with new rolling stock to Leeds and the North West. In our view, this could significantly disadvantage Hull and East Yorkshire. 

“We would like to see at least a “fast” hourly daily service with reduced journey times operating between Hull and Manchester with a full timetable from early morning until late evening”. 

Dr Kelly added: “We would also like to see serious consideration given to extending the service to either Manchester Airport or Liverpool and will be looking to take this matter forward with Transport for the North and Hull and East Riding Members of Parliament in the near future.