Latest news with #MattRice
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Cumbrian railway station ranked amongst worst for delays over past 12 weeks
NEW data has revealed that a west Cumbrian train station is amongst the worst for delays and cancellations across the country over the past 12 weeks. According to On Time Trains, just 14 per cent of trains arrived on time at St Bees station, with 8 per cent delayed by more than 10 minutes and 5 per cent of services cancelled. St Bees was ranked as the 2,614th 'best' station in the country out of 2,639, making it the 25th worst performing station in England, Scotland and Wales. Other stations on the Cumbria coast trainline were also among the worst performing stations including Workington and Whitehaven, according to On Time Trains. There is a stretch of single track near St Bees station which can cause congestion which leads to delays. Matt Rice, Northern's chief operating officer, said: 'We have been working hard to stabilise performance and cut cancellations in recent months. 'There are green shoots of progress, but we know more work needs to be done before we can deliver lasting improvements for our customers. 'That includes securing a new agreement, so we are no longer reliant on conductors volunteering to work Sundays. 'We are also working to reduce sickness levels by helping staff return to work, introducing state-of-the-art simulators to accelerate our training programme and planning to make the largest ever investment in our fleet by introducing up to 450 new trains.' Cumbrian MPs have called for a 'major upgrade' of the Cumbrian coast railway line to help boost economic growth. Former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak promised to 'upgrade' the energy coast line linking Carlisle, Workington and Barrow after cancelling the leg of HS2 from Birmingham to Manchester. The upgrade would see more space for freight and passenger trains and improve the reliability of the line more broadly – both seen as essential to support inward investment and to meet the needs of businesses and communities along the length of the line and the wider rail network. Labour MP for Whitehaven and Workington, Josh MacAlister, raised the issue in parliament and said investment in the line is 'much needed'. READ NEXT: Plans unveiled for new bar at Carlisle Citadel station | News and Star 'A major upgrade of the Energy Coast Rail Line is critical to our success in West Cumbria and delivering it is a top priority for me,' said Mr MacAlister. 'I'm now working with Cumbria's other MPs, the leaders of both councils and our civil and defence nuclear leaders to secure £5million from the government to get it to FBC - Final Business Case - which is the next and final stage before we can then get a funding decision from government on the upgrade.'
The Irish Sun
22-04-2025
- Business
- The Irish Sun
Major UK city train station forced to close for two months reopens after huge £10million revamp
A MAJOR city centre train station is finally back open this week after a two-month shutdown and a whopping £10million makeover. Advertisement 4 A major UK train station has flung open its doors after a two-month closure and a jaw-dropping £10million makeover Credit: Alamy 4 Commuters can't believe the transformation Credit: Alamy Commuters will notice a brand new roof, wider platforms, revamped ticket office and clearer signage - with more upgrades, including accessible toilets and braille maps, still to come. The station was set to reopen on Monday but bosses held off to let Northern carry out last-minute safety checks. Passengers are being told to plan ahead as the work will clash with a major revamp at nearby Salford Crescent next year, meaning weekend rail services will be hit. Until then, train users can hop on Bee Network buses between key stations including Salford Crescent and Manchester Oxford Road using their valid tickets - but heads up, more closures are planned for April 27 and May 4. Advertisement more on salford Simon Elliott, Network Director for Rail at TfGM, said: 'The first phase of work at Salford Central is complete and passengers will soon be able to enjoy the upgrades that are being made at the station." 'While the main work is done, Northern requires more time to carry out essential checks to ensure passengers' safety prior to the station re-opening. 'We're sorry for any inconvenience or disruption this may cause to people's "We'll continue to work closely with Northern and Network Rail, as well as the main contractor, to meet the revised reopening date.' Advertisement Most read in News Travel Exclusive Exclusive Matt Rice, Chief Operating Officer for Northern, added: "We realise that Salford Central being closed for a few extra days may be inconvenient, but safety is our top priority and we need to make sure that the station is safe for everybody to use. "Once the station reopens in a few days' time, customers will be able to enjoy a fantastic new facility that will truly transform their experience. Exploring the UK's Most Underrated Cities "We're really looking forward to welcoming customers back to the station when it reopens." The station was due to reopen on Monday, but couldn't due to technical issues. Advertisement In a statement on its website, the rail operator said: "Salford Central was due to reopen on Monday 21 April but due to some last-minute technical issues, trains will not be stopping here for a few more days." Nathaniel Yates, rail accessibility activist, said these improvements are a "welcome step forward" as there was still a "long way to go to improve access at train stations". The project promises to deliver the "much-needed modernisation" of the station building and an overall improvement in the customer journey throughout the station. The Bee Network is Greater Manchester's bold bid to build a slick, London-style transport system. Advertisement First announced in 2018, the integrated network brings together buses, trams, cycling and walking routes under one banner, with commuter rail services set to join the hive by 2028. Inspired by the city's famous worker bee symbol, the Bee Network aims to make ditching the car a no-brainer - with yellow-and-black buses and trams zipping across the region as part of a cleaner, smarter way to travel. Meanwhile in London, no trains will run through or stop at Huddersfield station in West Yorkshire between August 30 and September 29, according to Network Rail. The train station is used by almost 10,000 people every day is set to close for a month as part of a £70 million revamp. Advertisement The works are set to spark travel chaos for the roughly 300,000 travellers who use the station each month. After the closure, just three of the six current platforms will reopen on a temporary basis. This is to allow for work on the multibillion-pound Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) to continue. Network Rail says the closure will allow developers to remodel the track and platforms. Advertisement This change will "transform the layout of the station and enable more trains with more seats to run through the area on a greener, more reliable railway". Huddersfield station has already completed some of its restorative work, which began in November 2023, with the terminus' canopy roof having its refurbishment finished up in April. The station's modernisation programme is due to be complete by 2027. 4 Huddersfield railway station will close for 30 days as part of a £70m upgrade to its interior and track layout Credit: Glen Minikin - The Sun Advertisement 4 The station's roofing had its refurbishment completed in April this year, following 18 months of work Credit: Alamy
