A rush hour train service between Manchester and Macclesfield has been axed leading to fears of overcrowding for commuters.
The 8:02am service- was has 11 carriages- has been removed from the timetable from May 16th, The Manchester Journal reports, Operator Avanti West Coast said this is due to staff shortages and that the cancellation is only temporary and will resume again in September.
One commuter, Robert, said that the cancellation will lead to over crowding and said he was 'disturbed' to hear of the cancellation. MP David Rutley said he will be meeting with rail bosses about 'disappointing' news.
The alternative routes for those wanting to arrive in Manchester between 8am and 9am are the 7:50am or the 8:19am. Commuter Robert Flicking says these trains only have three carriages each. This means that Morning rush hour capacity will be reduce from 17 carriages to 6.
He said "As a regular rail user as I was surprised if not disturbed (by the news). This service provides a high capacity service of 11 coaches in length and from personal observation has been recently approximately 50 per cent full on arrival into Manchester.
"Given that national rail demand recovery has been reported by the Department of Transport as running at about two thirds of pre-Covid I struggle to see how such a cut in capacity can be justified. Especially the crowding which it will lead to on adjacent services."
The 8:19am service is often full and standing room only from Bramhall, later in the route, from student use, added Robert. A notice at Macclesfield station informs passages of the change.
The service originates from London Euston at 6:15am, also calling in at Stoke. In an email to Mr Rutley, Robert has asked for the matter to be 'urgently addressed' with Grant Shapps, Secretary of State for Transport. The email points out that at nearby Wilmslow there are 5 trains- with a total of 26 coaches- taking passengers to Manchester for between 8am and 9am.
Robert added: "Given that Macclesfield station is busier than Wilmslow it is hard to fathom how the Department of Transport is justifying such a poor provision for Macclesfield"
An Avanti spokesman said "The 8:02 Macclesfield to Manchester Piccadilly train has been withdrawn until September as a temporary measure due to staff shortages . The train is planned to make a return in September and our timetable is subject to regular review in collaboration with stakeholders from government, Network Rail and industry partners."
Mr Rutley said "It is very disappointing to see this peak time train being removed temporarily from the timetable. This will create real inconvenience and disruption for many local passengers on a key fast train service to Manchester. "
" I have written to the managing director of Avanti West Coast, and will be speaking with the senior management team to seek the earliest possible return of this service, as a priority.
The news comes after the 7:45 service from Stoke-On-Trent to Manchester Piccadilly was cancelled earlier this week. Commuter Daniel Wilson, uses the busy service from his Northwood home during the working week. He has already spent £2,800 on an Avanti-Only annual season ticket, which has 5 months left on it.
Now he must fork out a extra £800 for a new season ticket acceptable on other train services, meaning that from today he must either use the 6:58am service to the 7:27am train to get to work on time.
Avanti said the service was "Planned to return in September."
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