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Corby train delays labelled 'shambolic'



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Published Date: 09 November 2008
TRAINS may not start running from Corby to the capital until March 21 – more than three months after the original station opening date.
Deputy leader of Corby Council Mark Pengelly has described the situation as 'shambolic' and has called for Government Transport Minister Lord Andrew Adonis to help sort out the situation.

In a letter seen by the Evening Telegraph sent to the Government Office of Rail Regulation, East Midlands Trains admits that it has now applied to Network Rail to start the Corby to St Pancras timetable from late March.

Trains had been due to start on December 14, but last month EMT admitted that was impossible after failing to secure the four new trains it needed.

MP Phil Hope then suggested a new start date of the end of January or mid-February.

But now that too looks unlikely after the letter was sent to the Government stating: "East Midlands Trains is now proposing not to run a service to or from Corby until Friday, March 20, although the availability of train units will continue to be under review during the early part of 2009.

"East Midlands Trains continues to work closely with Department for Transport to introduce these services as soon as possible and it is expected the commencement of the proposed services to and from Corby will be hopefully from Saturday, March 21."

People have been campaigning for two decades to get a railway station back in the town.

Cllr Pengelly said: "This is shambolic. We will have a train station by December 14 so North Northants Development Company and English Partnerships have done their bit. The people who have let us down are the private rail companies. They have had a year to find the trains."

A spokesman for EMT said: "We cannot give a date for the start of the service until we have secured the trains and we haven't done that yet."

The full article contains 324 words and appears in n/a newspaper.
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  • Last Updated: 09 November 2008 6:45 PM
  • Source: n/a
  • Location: Kettering
 
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1

john,corby,

oakley vale 09/11/2008 22:11:35
we have waited two decades...a couple of months more isnt to bad.
2

Ray Rodden,

Corby 09/11/2008 22:57:39
first Phil Hope told us December

Then Phil hope had 'high level meetings with lord Adonis and we were told 'end of january'

This then became 14th february.

NOW 21st March

They really are having a laugh.

As for Hope and his 'high level meetings'
That is the biggest joke of all
3

Roberto,

Kettering 10/11/2008 01:41:13
I recall writing on one of the earlier news items, jokingly, that I doubt whether the service would start much before the next timetable change in Spring 2009. Looks as though I was right so the Joke is on EMT.

The more serious question that has to be asked is this:

If things are so bad in the UK that they simply cannot find 4 units to run a train service in the whole of the UK then something is SERIOUSLY WRONG with the transport strategy in this country!

Is this the best EMT and the Dept. for Transport can do?
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john,corby,

oakly vale 10/11/2008 09:41:46
the blame for this shambles is on the government who sold the railways off to cowboys who were allowed to run it purely for profit,not as a service hmmm who was that again...well at least it was just the trains they got their hands on eh? .....oh dear.well not to worry the public will soon have an oppotunity to let them back in so they can finish off the NHS.
5

NicB,

W'boto 10/11/2008 09:41:49
It is becoming increasingly obvious that EMT are not fit to run the Midland Mainline.

Corby should have been brought back into the railway network a lot sooner, and although it's not their fault that it took so long to get there, it's pure incompetance (at a management level) to allow delays like this. They knew since they were awarded the franchise that they would need trains, and they've had plenty of time to arrange it.

The massive cuts to the services being made in a few weeks time are further evidence that they need to be removed and replaced by someone who has a clue.
6

RNG,

Corby Old Village 10/11/2008 10:04:30
This is a joke. Except it isn't because a joke is supposed to be funny. This situation needs to be seriously and deeply looked into by both local and central government. There is no excuse for not starting the service on time: other train operating companies up and down the country have hired in rolling stock to cover for shortfalls in availability. A service with temporarily hired in rolling stock is better than no service, have EMT looked at ALL the opti
ons?
Corby deserves answers and a train service ASAP.
7

Oakley,

Oakley Vale 10/11/2008 15:02:23
I'm amazed that HM Government or Network Rail hasn't fined this company as it really doesn't seem to care.

The previous rail operator was infinitely more popular than this crowd and are fondly remembered by most people.

They must surely have worked in fine detail on the Corby Station part of the bid and to think they can get away with not providing it for three months whilst probably getting paid for it smacks of arrogance.

I wonder if the regulator will cap any price rises they will try to get away with in the New Year?
8

Bobby85,

Kettering 10/11/2008 16:36:14
Unfortunatly East Midlands Trains are not solely to blame for this shambles. A few comments have questioned if there is any spare rolling stock in the UK. The answer is yes, but not high speed rolling stock. The 4 Meridian (pioneer) units are still on lease to First Hull Trains until the early part of 2009. The hope was that Hull Trains would have their new HST sets in place in December, but for one reason or another they have'nt so the Meridians can't leave until the HST's are in place.

I agree it is a mess, but the goverment & DFT are planning for the introduction of the HST2 (High Speed Train 2) project, although this is not thought be until 2013 at the earliest. So unfortuantly no more current High Speed stock will be made for the UK.

Again I agree people did favor Midland MainLine but the same problems would have arose for them as it has done for EMT.
9

Ray Rodden,

Corby 10/11/2008 16:54:58
Booby85, thanks for the info.

Even bigger joke now is that not only are we not getting any trains ANY TIME SOON but when we do get them they'll be SECOND HAND !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This story bets better .......... and better ................... and even better.

Maybe we could get some of them hand cranked four person open trains you see in the american wild west films - should go well with the cowboys we have running this pantomine
10

,

10/11/2008 19:10:25
Comment Reported Unsuitable By User
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