Wakefield, August 27, 2024 — In a controversial move that has stirred significant discontent among local officials, CrossCountry trains will reduce their service at Wakefield Westgate station during the summer months. This decision, which will see ten daily services between Scotland and South-West England bypassing the city, was made without prior consultation with key local authorities, prompting a backlash from community leaders and transportation officials.
The reduction in service comes at a time when the local rail network is already under considerable strain. CrossCountry’s strategy aims to alleviate congestion on longer journeys by encouraging passengers to use alternative routes for shorter trips. However, the sudden shift has raised alarms about the potential negative impacts on local connectivity and community cohesion.
The decision was formally criticized at a West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) Transport Committee meeting held on May 24, where councillors voiced their frustration and concern. Armaan Khan, representing Normanton on Wakefield Council, questioned the need for more consultation with the WYCA and Transport for the North (TfN). He asked whether there were plans to review the decision in the future, highlighting the absence of local input in a matter that directly affects the community.
Dave Haskins, WYCA’s interim director for transport operations and passenger experience, acknowledged the challenges posed by the decision. “We have been working closely with the rail industry to manage these changes as best as possible,” he said. “We understand that such decisions have significant consequences and sometimes result in difficult trade-offs. While some impacts are manageable, this situation is particularly problematic.”
Jakob Williamson, a councillor for Hemsworth, further emphasized the strain on the local network. He pointed out that the reduction in CrossCountry services comes on top of previous cutbacks by Northern, which has already decreased the number of carriages on local services. Williamson expressed concern that the loss of these services would exacerbate existing problems with bus reliability and punctuality, leading to increased isolation among towns and villages in the district. “Our district is becoming more isolated not just from one another but from other parts of West Yorkshire,” he said. “This situation seems driven by profit rather than passenger needs.”
Simon Warburton, WYCA’s executive director of transport, confirmed that the authority had raised the issue with TfN. “CrossCountry often serves as a local service through parts of Wakefield, which might be overlooked in broader planning considerations,” he noted.
Committee chair Susan Hinchcliffe criticized the railway industry for its narrow focus on passenger numbers and connectivity without considering the broader economic and regeneration impacts. “When decisions like these are made, they fail to account for the economic and social cohesion that transportation supports,” she said. “This is damaging to our economy, and the industry needs to recognize the full scope of these ramifications.”
The situation remains fluid as local authorities continue to seek dialogue with CrossCountry and TfN to mitigate the impact of these service reductions. For now, residents and local officials are left grappling with the immediate effects of this decision and advocating for a more inclusive approach to transportation planning.
Several CrossCountry trains will no longer call at the station over the summer.
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