IT is now six weeks since the Farnworth tunnels reopened and under Northern Rails headline banner of 'CHANGE IS GOOD'.
This is not apparent for those passengers using the Blackburn line which includes Darwen, Bromley Cross and Hall i'th Wood stations, especially if you need to be at work for 9.00am in Manchester centre.
Whilst the works were being carried out, the 7.52 from Bromley Cross was a four carriage train however since the December 14, 2015, the 7.50 has become a three carriage train thus reducing the capacity on that line.
The train is now arriving almost full at Bromley Cross, leaving most of the passengers boarding at that station (some 40+) having to stand with a similar number boarding at Hall i'th Wood, reducing conditions to that of a cattle truck.
I have contacted NT about this and been advised that whilst this is the case there is extra capacity at Bolton, this doesn't really alleviate the problem for those using the Blackburn line.
My second point and I have mentioned this to NR on several occasions that whilst they have spent hundreds of thousands of pounds refurbishing Manchester Victoria station passengers can still exit the station without having to show a valid ticket and therefore avoiding paying, which increases the cost to the fare paying public. I thought it was a condition of the franchise that they have to collect as much revenue as possible and therefore they are in breach of their terms and conditions.
Alan Holt
Bolton
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