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Manchester Piccadilly to Rose Hill Marple Trains
10 September 2020
Lead MP
William Wragg
Debate Type
Adjournment Debate
Tags
EmploymentParliamentary Procedure
Other Contributors: 2
At a Glance
William Wragg raised concerns about manchester piccadilly to rose hill marple trains in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Opened the debate
William Wragg moved an adjournment debate concerning the temporary suspension of services on the Manchester Piccadilly to Rose Hill via Hyde line, scheduled for three months starting next week. He highlighted Northern's reasons for suspending services due to driver training programme delays and workforce issues but argued that these problems should have been anticipated earlier. Wragg emphasised the importance of consultation with local bodies before such decisions are made and raised concerns about the impact on schoolchildren and commuters. He called on the Minister to prevent the complete removal of service, prioritise driver training for the line, and ensure new trains are allocated. The MP stressed the need for a reliable rail service post-pandemic and praised the work of local friends groups in advocating for better services.
Stalybridge and Hyde
Reynolds thanked Wragg for securing the debate, noting that Northern's decision to suspend services despite high usage is too significant a change without proper consultation.
Navendu Mishra
Lab
Stockport
Mishra agreed with Wragg and added criticism of Northern’s performance since the Government took over the franchise in March 2020, citing high complaint rates.
Government Response
Chris Heaton-Harris acknowledged the concerns raised and explained that Northern made the decision to suspend services due to driver training backlogs exacerbated by the pandemic. However, he announced that Northern would reintroduce two morning peak trains and an afternoon service from September 14th to meet school demand. The Minister assured that restoring a reliable timetable remains their priority and thanked Wragg for his persistent efforts in advocating for this issue. He also criticised the Liberal Democrats for not making representations despite running a campaign, highlighting the effectiveness of working together within the Government to achieve results.
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Assessment & feedback
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About House of Commons Debates
House of Commons debates take place in the main chamber of the House of Commons. These debates cover a wide range of topics including government policy, legislation, and current affairs. MPs from all parties can participate, question ministers, and hold the government accountable for its decisions.