Passengers demand improvements at Slaithwaite and Marsden stations

Jun 3 2010 by Joanne Douglas, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

DIRTY trains and a PA system which broke after three days are just two of the complaints about Slaithwaite station from a local travel action group.

And now Slaithwaite and Marsden Action on Rail Transport (SMART) are demanding answers.

Tony Bowers said the PA system, installed on May 19 after a nine month absence had broken down just three days later.

He said improvements on the Huddersfield to Manchester Victoria service were needed urgently.

SMART are calling on Northern Rail to get moving on improving the station’s facilities for passengers.

Mr Bowers, of Slaithwaite, said: “It is significant that Northern Rail has, after an interval of some nine months, finally restored the PA system for passengers travelling from Marsden and Slaithwaite.

“The reconnection of the information tannoy on May 19 is to be welcomed, but the public announcement system only lasted three days. It had failed again by Saturday.”

He said the nine-month wait for passengers raised serious questions about the capacity of Northern Rail to fulfil its responsibilities of providing a service to the public. Last month the company won a two-year extension to its franchise to continue running after next September.

Mr Bowers added: “This information system is of considerable importance, not least because Northern Rail now appears to be cancelling regular weekday trains – currently those outside rush hour.