Andy Burnham has demanded that first-class carriages be scrapped on Northern trains until there’s a “decent service”.
The Mayor of Greater Manchester said that until the North gets the expanded timetable that it was originally promised all the way back in 2014, then he “couldn’t see a justification” for first class compartments “when people can’t get a seat”, and when they are paying ticket prices “at the level that they are”.
Speaking to fellow Northern leaders at a meeting last week, Mr Burnham added that ongoing disruptions are a part of the “managed decline in the railways of northern England.”
He added that there’s “no end in sight.”
He also made sure to note that it will include cuts to weekend services and standing room only on key lines for five to 10 years.
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After refusing to endorse the timetable until the government provided a firm infrastructure plan for the Castlefield corridor, according to the MEN, the Mayor then went a step further, saying: “If we sign this off, we all know what the reality will be for at least five years, more like ten years, on rail services across the north, particularly between Manchester and Leeds.
“It will mean people unable to find a seat because we’ve got a reduced number of services.”
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Andy Burnham has demanded that first-class carriages be scrapped on Northern trains until there’s a “decent service” / Credit: Network Rail
Mr Burnham continued: “It will mean standing up all the way back to Manchester, and that will just be the reality for people for years and years and years to come.
“Until we get back to the expanded timetable we were promised… trains should be declassified.
“I can’t see a justification for first class compartments when people can’t get a seat, when they are paying ticket prices at the level that they are.”
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Former Chancellor George Osborne had first promised expansions at Manchester Piccadilly Station via new platforms 15 and 16 and Oxford Road Station all the way back in 2014 in order to relieve the Castlefield corridor.
But, this expansion is yet to be signed off.
Mr Burnham said that ongoing disruptions are a part of the “managed decline in the railways of northern England.” / Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Instead, a new “high-performing” rail timetable that’s aimed at cutting delays and “unclogging” the Castlefield corridor was approved back in October, and is expected to come into force in December 2022.
The timetable for December 2022 is currently out to consultation for a second time – however, a report to the northern body Transport for North last week noted that the move comes with a trade-off, in that “the number of trains that can use the corridor will effectively be capped”.
Andy Burnham informed his fellow leaders that he had recently been told of cuts to weekend services that Greater Manchester had not previously known about, although he did not elaborate.
It is understood the changed timetable would see fewer weekend services between Blackpool North and Manchester among others, the MEN reports.
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The Strokes announce first Manchester gig in two decades
Daisy Jackson
The Strokes are finally set to return to Manchester for the first time in years, announcing a huge arena show today.
The iconic indie rockers have shared details of a new European tour, which includes a night at the massive Co-op Live arena here in Manchester.
The news comes hot off the heels of their celebrated Coachella set over the weekend.
The Reality Awaits Tour, named after their upcoming seventh studio album, will take The Strokes to Manchester as well as London and Newcastle, plus several cities across Europe.
The Strokes broke into the industry back in 2001 with their seminal debut album Is This It, which spawned massive indie anthems like Last Nite, Hard To Explain, and Sometimes.
Since then, they’ve released six studio albums, all of which have climbed into the top 10 of the UK Albums Chart.
You can expect to hear all sorts of fan favourites, like Reptilia, Juicebox, and You Only Live Once, plus new music including their latest single The New Abnormal.
Co-op Live said: “This is set to be an unmissable show as they come to Co-op Live for the first time and we can’t wait!”
Last time The Strokes played in Manchester, it was at the O2 Apollo way back in 2006 – the same year they supported Foo Fighters at Emirates Old Trafford Cricket Ground.
They played Lytham Festival more recently, but haven’t ventured back into Manchester itself since.
The Strokes will play at Co-op Live in Manchester on 26 October 2026.
Tickets will go on sale at 10am on Friday 17 April HERE, with a number of pre-sales beginning from Wednesday 15 April.
Manchester Museum to close much-loved section for ‘major’ £200k redevelopment
Emily Sergeant
Manchester Museum has announced that it’s planning to close of its best-loved exhibitions.
Thanks to a grant of £200,000 from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport’s (DCMS) Museums and Galleries Improvement Fund, Manchester Museum is planning a major redevelopment of its much-loved Vivarium.
The Vivarium has sat at the heart of Manchester Museum for more than 60 years, and is a centre for globally-significant conservation projects, caring for around 30 different amphibian and reptile species – many of which are critically endangered – in a bid to inspire generations of visitors.
Thanks to a pioneering partnership with Panama Wildlife Conservation Charity, which is just one of many projects designed to safeguard the future of endangered species and develop learning programmes that raise awareness of threats to biodiversity, Manchester Museum houses the world’s only captive ‘back-up’ population – which is why the redevelopment of the Vivarium is so important.
The funding grant will help to ‘revitalise’ public displays, and create new state-of-the art facilities and bespoke naturalistic environments for the amphibian and reptile species cared for by the Vivarium.
It will also allow the development of dedicated facilities for schools, teaching, and visiting tour groups, which the Museum hopes will ‘further enhance’ the gallery’s potential for learning.
During the redevelopment – which has been named the ‘Habitats of Hope’ project – new permanent displays will also be created that explore the connections between its wider collections and the animals it cares for.
Manchester Museum is set to close one of its much-loved sections for ‘major’ £200k redevelopment / Credit: Supplied
“Habitats of Hope speaks to how wonderful and how vulnerable the world’s rarest amphibians are” commented Georgina Young, who is the Head of Collections and Exhibitions at Manchester Museum.
“Major investment means Manchester Museum can match the highest standards of animal care with a more accessible visitor experience, while weaving stories of research, conservation, partnership and action that stretch from thriving ponds in Manchester to hyper-biodiverse ecosystems in Costa Rica and Panama.”
Emily Sergeant -
17th December 2021 
