A regional journalist for 32 years, Ian was Editor in Chief of The Bolton News until last month. Today is the first of a regular weekly column

THERE are several things I realised when I stepped down as editor after 10 years.

How lucky I was to be only the 12th person in charge of my 151-year-old local newspaper.

How much I would miss the people – regardless of the odd contretemps over the years.

Oh, and how much of an impact a particular catchphrase of mine had in the newsroom.

“Is it me?” was apparently so much a part of my daily language that staff had a T shirt printed with the slogan on the front for me to take away as a memento.

The words usually popped out as my incredulity over some news got the better of me.

And never were they more used than when it came to the saga of the utterly shocking conditions the poor commuters between Bolton and Manchester have had to endure for as long as I have been a journalist.

That’s three decades. Thirty years of well justified anger at third world conditions on the half hour journey into the city.

In the 1980s and 90s, the experience of travelling in a train between here and Manchester was aptly described as being like inside a “cattle truck”.

Commuters have seemingly forever been crammed into too few carriages, standing most of the way – and that’s when they could even get on a train. There were so few available, even in rush hour, that many were left, furious and often late for work, on the platform.

Over the years there have been petitions, campaigns, lobbying of government ministers, led by this newspaper.

The then Prime Minister David Cameron called into The Bolton News’ offices in December 2013 to promise action.

So, surely that after all the torment for travellers, that there would be improvements.

In 2018, things couldn’t be as bad. Could they?

Well, no. Things are actually worse.

This week, Northern Rail’s ‘management’ of the service hit a new nadir.

As if the situation wasn’t bad enough already, timetable changes meant huge numbers of services were simply cancelled.

At one time the complaint was the horrible state of the journey.

On Monday, for many there wasn’t even the trip to worry about. There was no train to get on. Same on Tuesday. And Wednesday.

And then yesterday, a strike added insult to injury for battered commuters.

The scandal has infuriated Bolton MP Sir David Crausby for years. He has been granted a debate in Westminster early next month and is demanding that action be taken.

Greater Manchester’s Mayor Andy Burnham is also less than happy. Last week he said Northern Rail’s performance was so poor an official investigation should be held. And following the outcry, the Transport Secretary Chris Grayling this week apologised and said the department was doing it all could to rectify the situation.

Meanwhile, Northern Rail also claimed they had a plan ready to roll out which would alleviate the misery.

The thing is, chaps, this isn’t good enough.

All there have ever been are words – empty words that have failed to change anything.

Northern Rail has failed to demonstrate that it can provide a modern rail service for passengers between Bolton and Manchester.

So, do the decent thing, please. Move over and let someone else have a go. It can’t be any worse.

Or is it me?