CONSIDER the plight of Colne Valley railway passengers who are travelling to onward destinations from Huddersfield.
For most of the day the “Rattler” is scheduled to arrive at Huddersfield at 12 minutes past the hour. This allows you 1 minute to connect with Penistone Line trains departing at 13 minutes past the hour.
Fortunately, I can still sprint for a train when required to do so but for many of my fellow passengers this is not an option.
For trains to Wakefield, for the connection to Doncaster and London, there is a 23 minute wait. Not so long ago the “Rattler” used to run through to Wakefield, rather than terminating at Huddersfield.
If you have arrived from Halifax or Bradford you are allowed two minutes to transfer to the Huddersfield-Manchester Victoria (stopping at Slaithwaite and Marsden) service. If you are travelling to Manchester Piccadilly or Manchester Airport you are now faced with a 43 minute wait at Stalybridge for most of the day.
Trying to obtain a ticket also has its problems. Having boarded the train at Marsden recently I was without a ticket by the time I had reached Huddersfield, the conductor having far too many passengers to deal with during the 12 minute journey.
I just managed to board the train for Penistone, still without a ticket, only to be given a lecture by the conductor (a young lady at least half my age) about my “responsibilities”. To rub salt into the wound, she then invoked some obscure rule, which didn’t allow me to use my senior railcard.
There isn’t much incentive to use the train under these conditions. I’ll refrain from comment about the Sunday service. In the past, complaints to my MP, local councillors, Northern Rail, etc, seem to have gone unnoticed. I wonder just who will listen and take any action?
Jimmy James
Marsden
