Description
James McCollom
Since the May 2011 timetable, additional stops have been put into the 0756 service from Manchester Airport to Blackpool North, at Gatley and East Didsbury. This relieves pressure on the preceeding all-stops train and has the side-effect of introducing through services to Oxford Road, Bolton and Horwich Parkway. A good number of commuters make use of this facility.
In order to allow a through-train on the return leg, it is requested that the 1640 from Blackpool North to Manchester Airport stop additionally at East Didsbury and Gatley.
Problem History
- 1 James McCollom reported the issue on FixMyTransport. close 18:42 12 Sep 2011 #
-
2
James McCollom wrote to First TransPennine Express
close
18:42 12 Sep 2011
#
Here is the letter that James McCollom wrote.
Additional peak-hour calls at Gatley and East Didsbury
Since the May 2011 timetable, additional stops have been put into the 0756 service from Manchester Airport to Blackpool North, at Gatley and East Didsbury. This relieves pressure on the preceeding all-stops train and has the side-effect of introducing through services to Oxford Road, Bolton and Horwich Parkway. A good number of commuters make use of this facility.
In order to allow a through-train on the return leg, it is requested that the 1640 from Blackpool North to Manchester Airport stop additionally at East Didsbury and Gatley.
-
Thank you for contacting First TransPennine Express. This is an automated response so please do not reply.
We respond to emails in the order they are received and we aim to respond as quickly as we can. (Usually within 5 working days)
If we are receiving a high level of correspondence or if your contact requires a detailed investigation we may take up to 20 working days to respond.
If your enquiry is urgent please contact the correct team below and we'll be happy to help.
Web Ticket Sales Support, 0844 556 5637 or visit our web sales live chat
Train running information, 0845 748 4950
Bike reservation, 0845 600 1674
Lost property, 0845 600 1672
Assisted travel, 0800 107 2149
Other enquiry, 0845 600 1671
Regards,
Customer Relations Team
First TransPennine Express -
Customer Relations Team
First TransPennine Express
ADMAIL 3878
FREEPOST
Manchester
M1 9YB
Tel: 0845 6001671
Fax: 0845 6008363
Website: www.tpexpress.co.uk
Reference: 6184562/TPE
Dear James McCollom
Thank you for your e-mail received 12 September 2011 regarding the current First TransPennine timetable of services between Blackpool North and Manchester Airport. I note your particular comments regarding 1640 service having additional stops at East Didsbury and Gatley.
As a customer-led business we will always strive to meet the needs of as many of our passengers as we can, but it does mean that much as we should like to do so, we cannot please everyone. Our train services are subject to regular review in the light of experience and customer comments such as yours. I shall certainly log your valuable comments for the attention of our train-planning department who will take them into consideration where it is feasible to do so.
Thank you once again for contacting us and for your feedback on this matter.
Yours sincerely
Luther Triggs
Customer Relations Advisor
First/Keolis TransPennine Limited. Registered in England & Wales No. 4113923. Registered office: 50 Eastbourne Terrace, Paddington, London, W2 6LX.
*** Your feedback is really important to us so we would be very grateful for a couple of moments of your time to complete our customer satisfaction survey. For your chance to win a pair of First Class complementary tickets for travel anywhere on the TransPennine Express network, please click on the link below. ***
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/customersa...
First Rail Holdings Limited. Registered in England No. 5154485. Registered office: 50 Eastbourne Terrace, Paddington, London W2 6LG.
This message is confidential. It may not be disclosed to, or used by, anyone other than the addressee. If you receive this message in error, please advise us immediately.
Internet email is not necessarily secure. First does not accept responsibility for changes to any email which occur after the email has been sent. Attachments to this email could contain software viruses which could damage your system. First have checked the attachments for viruses before sending, but you should virus-check them before opening.
For more information on our range of services or to book your tickets online, please visit:- http://www.firstgroup.com -
5
Ian Morley commented
close
16:58 21 Sep 2011
#
why do FTPE constantly give such wishy-washy feeback to all matters raised with them?
I got exactly the same feedback on another query that got sent to them - obviously this is their standard polite fob off.
-
6
Peter Dixon commented
close
23:00 21 Sep 2011
#
The problem is that fitting stops into train services like the original poster requested is not as easy as it first appears. First of all, every stop costs time. This can have an impact on the train behind it and/or trains that will be behind it or cross it down the line. In addition, it can impact on the next service that this train operates.
Rail timetabling is a ginormous four dimensional jigsaw with numerous restrictions and rules that makes what may appear to be simple common sense very complicated. All they can do with this suggestion is pass it on to the relevant people who will raise it at the next meeting of timetabling teams. They are already starting to discuss the December 2012 timetable change.
anorakadmin -
7
James McCollom commented
close
12:20 22 Sep 2011
#
We have to let the Train Operating Companies know that there is demand for certain changes that they can then look at making when timetable reviews come up. Therefore whilst we may not get an immediate answer, it's important to keep the issue open.
Ideally me and fellow commuters would like to see four trains per hour call at local stops along the airport line at peak times, as currently there's a lot of empty seating capacity shuttling back-and-forth between Piccadilly and the airport. This seems like a reasonable first step.
-
8
Myf Nixon commented
close
16:20 03 Oct 2011
#
Hi James,
I agree you need to show there's support for this issue. Have you shared the URL with your fellow commuters?
We are able to generate these rough-and-ready fliers, which you are welcome to print out if you think it would help rally support: http://bit.ly/qSbiSS.
Good luck!
anorakadmin -
9
Myf Nixon advised James to write to Andrew Simcock.
close
11:29 07 Oct 2011
#
Hi James,
I'm going to suggest that you write to the local councillor for East Didsbury. It seems there are three of them in fact: if you have no luck with Mr Simcock, you could try the other two, which you can find here: http://www.writetothem.com/who?pc=M20+5WP+
Local councillors are responsible for public transport, among other things, and should have an interest in making sure it is working for their constituents.
I've drafted an email for you below, but feel free to edit or overwrite it.
Good luck!Myf Nixon
anorakadmin
Problem Reporter
