A RAIL users group believes that running the North-west's train services on time is often "beyond the wit" of the private sector.

The accusation came today in a damning report on the region's rail network by the Rail Users Consultative Committee. It delivered harsh verdicts on First North Western and Virgin Rail - the two main companies serving Bolton.

The committee slammed Virgin for hiking up its prices at an "astonishing rate" in the face of poor service.

And its chairman Brendan O'Friel feels the companies have demonstrated "a serious lack of understanding of what the Deputy Prime Minister expects from the train companies in listening to passenger concerns."

The group reported a 35 per cent increase in complaints which, it says, reflects the "severe problems of train performance" by the two firms.

A huge 3,310 people registered their disappointment with the services provided by all of the region's train companies - the largest number of complaints for ten years.

The report makes depressing reading for the train companies. Complaints over cancellations shot up by 70 pc from 277 in 1997/98 to 393 in 1998/99. And commuters were less than happy with overcrowding on trains as the number of complaints increased from 122 in 1997/98 to 214 in 1998/99 - a rise of 57 pc. The report says overcrowding is a common predicament at peak times on the Preston to Manchester route which cuts through Bolton and it calls for a greater number of carriages to be provided during the rush hours.

Frustrated passengers have been hampered in their dash to work and play by a series of problems including power, signalling, track and points failures and train crew shortages.

And to make matters worse, delayed commuters are often upset by poor arrivals and departures information at stations - despite it being easily available on the Internet.

But Mr O'Friel claims too many companies try to pass on the blame for poor performance. He said: "Passengers want improvement, not an unseemly and technical squabble over blame."

It was not all bad news for the railway industry as the committee praised the ongoing improvements to the region's stations with Bolton's coming in for particular praise for resurfacing work, enhanced lighting and its replacement roof.

Praised

The Metrolink, which runs from Bury to Altrincham, through Manchester city centre, was also praised for taking more than two million car journeys off the road. Meanwhile, Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority has also called for greater powers to ensure that train operating companies deliver quality services to passengers.

Cllr Joe Clarke, chairman, said: "Rail users in Greater Manchester are well aware of the problems we have experienced with rail services in the North-west over the past year or so and we want to see a marked improvement in the future.

"We want to see a change in the franchise agreements which will allow greater powers of enforcement to Passenger Transport Authorities and executives to ensure a better rail service for Greater Manchester passengers.

"The current system of penalties and incentives uses figures for trains across the whole of the North-west. This can lead to a situation where poor performance of trains in the Greater Manchester area can be masked by good performance outside the area."

"There also needs to be a better balance in the penalties and incentives offered to train operating companies in the franchise agreement as a means of improving service quality.

"We will be teaming up with other Passenger Transport Authorities to produce a joint response to government on this matter as we believe that high quality rail services are an essential part of an integrated transport system."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.