QUICK DISCLAIMER: All views & opinions expressed in Matt's Column are his own and not neccessarly the opinion of Atherton Online. How disgusted I was to hear about Atherton Train Station staff through no fault of their own being forced to close down operation’s at the station and to turn away passengers owing to the crowds which where piling in in order to do Christmas shopping at Manchester. The platform was apparently at full capacity, the waiting area was full and people were left waiting for hours on end. The situation was so incredibly dire that staff contacted Northern Rail in order to gain permission to close down the station and its services temporarily of not accepting any new passengers. People were apparently stunned when they were turned away and Northern Rail’s actions disgusted MP Norman Bradbury.
I don’t know if whether or not Mr Bradbury is deluded in regards to this issue, however he has seemingly not been on a Northern Rail train to Manchester during the times of sardine packed carriages to and from nearby city centre Manchester. Northern Rail have simply no idea what they are doing. It never fails to shock me how dim they are when they seem adamant that putting 2 carriages on one train during peak times is enough. It seems that there is never a time where passengers are able to relax and sit down and enjoy the commute, why? Due to the fact that we all seemingly have to play a game of charades every time we want to go and do some shopping. It doesn’t take a genius to establish the problem, it isn’t even a Krypton Factor worth guessing game... quite simply MORE CARRIAGES are needed on most of the trains from Wigan to Manchester. To put two carriages on a peak time train is beyond stupid and it seems that Northern Rail haven’t yet understood that. If they removed a good 2 or 3 carriages from the Bolton train for starters they would easily have some going spare.
Are we all expected to put up with this? To feel claustrophobic and to have the inability to move on public transport in the year 2011 is just simply unbelievable. It is downright disgusting and unacceptable and I for one congratulate the delightful staff at our local train station for their actions as I’m sure it was a last resort. Norman Bradbury clearly isn’t happy with that decision, yet would he commute on a train which is so inelegantly full? If this problem doesn’t get sorted then the trains should in my opinion be boycotted. Northern Rail need to spend their money on improving their trains and service because at the moment they are seemingly unable to organise bugger all! Unless of course travelling on unhealthy and John West sponsored Sardine trains are okay by you... in which case don’t give this a second thought, however I’m sure the majority can share this frustration and want action... Is it too much to ask for any form of public convenience to be ran properly these days?
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