Suspension of train services from Rose Hill

[Melancholyflower]

She also writes:
The government/ NHS classify people with certain long-term health conditions as vulnerable to the Coronavirus- diabetes, respiratory diseases, cancer etc.  Also older people (eg over 70). They are supposed to take extra precautions and not mix with others, so they probably couldn’t undergo driver training.

Yes, but train drivers are no different to other driving professions in that they have to have basic good health, are tested for serious conditions when they enroll, and have regular medicals to test for these things. They are therefore highly unlikely to be classed as vulnerable people.  I also find it unlikely that the only people qualified to train the drivers are over 70 or seriously ill, too.

I agree the petitions are an over-reaction and guaranteed to get public sympathy and support (which is why the local politicians are climbing on them). I'm not so sure that services would resume again though. So much about this crisis is taking away things and being very reluctant to give them back.

Andrewbowden I don't disagree that Pacers have to go, but for the sake of keeping a service open for everyone it's better having them than no trains at all. 

[andrewbowden]

The manager of Northern Rail seems to put this squarely as a result of being unable to train people up to drive new trains.  Given the situation, why not keep the Pacer "fleet" going in the meantime if it serves the community as it did? 

Some Pacers are still running.  Hang around Marple and you will see them.  Due to disability laws, they have to be coupled with an accessible train. So you will see them coupled up to something else.

But ultimately what they want/need is to get rid of them and ensure their shiny new trains are running (n.b. not that they are due to serve Marple.) because otherwise you have millions of pounds worth of trains hanging round that are unusable. How long do you keep them sat there?  It could take years otherwise.

[Dave]

Melancholy makes a good point about temporarily bringing back the ‘Pacers’ to solve the problem of driver training.

She also writes:

He says a number of colleagues are "classified as vulnerable". By whom, and how? What are the criteria for someone being "invulnerable"?

The government/ NHS classify people with certain long-term health conditions as vulnerable to the Coronavirus- diabetes, respiratory diseases, cancer etc.  Also older people (eg over 70). They are supposed to take extra precautions and not mix with others, so they probably couldn’t undergo driver training.

To be honest I think all the petitions are an over-reaction. Very few people are using the trains at the moment. Northern have clearly got a problem, but it should be a temporary one. There’s no reason to see this as a sneaky way of achieving permanent closure of Rose Hill. I think we should all calm down and take Northern at their word.

[Melancholyflower]

The manager of Northern Rail seems to put this squarely as a result of being unable to train people up to drive new trains.  Given the situation, why not keep the Pacer "fleet" going in the meantime if it serves the community as it did? 

He says a number of colleagues are "classified as vulnerable". By whom, and how? What are the criteria for someone being "invulnerable"?  How is it not possible to train a train driver in a controlled setting?  How does "uplifting" services on the Marple-New Mills corridor balance with removing it entirely from a different corridor?

We should not be too surprised. Until very recently train companies were actively discouraging people to travel.

We are now seeing a whole new universe of bureaucracy and regulation.

It's very sad news but a logical progression based on fear.  Expect more of this, and in other places.

[My login is Henrietta]

Blimey Cyberman - it's a while since we saw the words 'esteemed' and 'David Cameron' in the same sentence!

As hatter says, it's unfortunate after all the good work that's been done to boost passenger numbers at Rose Hill in recent years. But right now numbers are pitiful, and unlikely to pick up for a while. And the reason given by Northern/ DOHL is all-too-convincing - a shortage of trained drivers.   So with alternative services available from Marple, and unprecedented amounts of space available in the car parks there,  the Rose Hill service was an obvious candidate for suspension.

And sadly the Wragg/ Smart petitions are just for show - they make the politicians look busy and committed to our interests, but they rarely have any effect.

"They" have been trying to close Rose Hill station and the line since I was a schoolgirl. Taking this opportunity to do it this time may just pull it off.

[Dave]

Blimey Cyberman - it's a while since we saw the words 'esteemed' and 'David Cameron' in the same sentence!

As hatter says, it's unfortunate after all the good work that's been done to boost passenger numbers at Rose Hill in recent years. But right now numbers are pitiful, and unlikely to pick up for a while. And the reason given by Northern/ DOHL is all-too-convincing - a shortage of trained drivers.   So with alternative services available from Marple, and unprecedented amounts of space available in the car parks there,  the Rose Hill service was an obvious candidate for suspension.

And sadly the Wragg/ Smart petitions are just for show - they make the politicians look busy and committed to our interests, but they rarely have any effect.

[Cyberman]

Isn't Northern Rail now effectively Government run (DOHL - a subsidiary of the Department of Transport)? If so it's somewhat disingenuous of William Wragg to suggest it's naughty Northern Rail's fault. Someone should remind him that the esteemed David Cameron promised us the Greenest Government Ever and green governments don't push people from trains into cars.

[admin]

There are two petitions that can be "signed" online to support campaigns to fight these proposals:

https://www.lisasmart.org.uk/rose-hill-rail

https://www.williamwragg.org.uk/campaigns/save-rose-hill-marple-service-piccadilly

[hatter76]

It's very disappointing, there has been so much work been put in over recent years to boost footfall at Rose Hill. It was until recently the highest it's ever been rising from c55,000 per year a decade ago to over 150,000 per year.

When BR was running the line the first trains to be cancelled were always Rose Hill. If they were short of guards they would suspend the whole service.

Exactly the same now, you take the franchised operator out of the equation with fines and targets and you get decisions like this.

[Dave]

The lack of cars on Marple carpark its worrying you dont relise how many people are not working or working from home .

...... or choosing to drive to work?

[amazon]

Crikes.

The lack of cars on Marple carpark its worrying you dont relise how many people are not working or working from home .

[ROTHERS]

copy of letter

[andrewbowden]

Crikes.

[corium]

Proposed that there are no services till 2021. Details on Willianm Wragg's social media feeds.