AN MP has visited Northern Rail, and even spent time in the driver’s cab on a return journey from Leeds to Bradford Forster Square.
Shipley MP Philip Davies visited Leeds Station, one of the largest hubs for Northern Rail and met with Darren Allsopp, Stakeholder Manager East, and Danielle Clarkson, Performance Improvement Coordinator.
Mr Davies said: “I was very grateful to be given a behind the scenes look at how the train network is managed through Leeds station - where there are almost 1,200 trains a day - and to discuss with the experts in the company about how train performance is managed and how timetables are arrived at.
“I was extremely impressed with the Northern Rail staff - many of whom have decades of experience on the railways and to see their passion for the industry.
“It was a fantastic experience to sit in the driver’s cab for a journey to see their job at first hand.”
Mr Davies also took the opportunity to discuss recent timetable changes to the Wharfedale Line which has seen a reduction from two trains an hour to one at off peak times.
Mr Davies said: “Many people have contacted me about the reduction in service and I am being told by Northern it is due to low passenger footfall. I made the point that it is a chicken and egg situation and the fewer services we see, the less likely people are to use the train and so it becomes self-fulfilling”.
Mr Davies was also told recent problems with anti-social behaviour at Shipley Station had reduced which Northern believe is due to the recent introduction of classical music at the station.
