MR S PEARCE refers to problems experienced with rail services operated by First North Western and asks what Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority and GMPTE are doing to improve services ("Complain about trains", December 20).
The Authority and GMPTE take any problems with public transport very seriously, and we are doing our best within the powers available to us to ensure that the public transport network is performing as well as possible.
It may be useful to clarify our role in relation to the county's rail services. While we specify the local rail service levels we want to see in place through a "Passenger Service Requirement", and also procure these services through the Government-funded rail grant process, we do not have any powers of enforcement over rail operators -- these rest solely with the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA).
However, GMPTE does monitor local rail services on behalf of the Passenger Transport Authority -- a body made up of 33 councillors from the 10 districts of Greater Manchester. The Authority's Transport Network Committee receives regular performance reports on all services and is diligent in calling operators to account where necessary. I would also like to point out that there is a very specific procedure for rail complaints, which are all formally recorded and reported. Any complaints that GMPTE receive are recorded for monitoring purposes, and forwarded immediately to the relevant transport operation for a response. First North Western is statutorily obliged to record and respond to all complaints, and to widely publicise the complaints process to its customers. All rail complaints are then reported to the SRA, who in turn publish a national report every year.
The other course of action open to rail passengers who wish to comment on their services is, as Mr Pearce suggests, to contact the Rail Passengers Council for the North West, which is one of eight regional bodies set up by Parliament to protect passengers' interests.
I would like to assure your readers that GMPTE is working hard with the SRA to make sure that, through the refranchising process for the TransPennine Express and Northern franchises, there will be a marked change in the quality of rail services provided throughout the country.
Keith Howcroft
Director of Planning and Communications
GMPTE
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