dk1
Veteran Member
Just spent a few days in South Yorkshire & did a fair bit of travelling around, most of it on Northern. I have nothing but praise for the very helpful conductors encountered on every train. Trouble is they seem to be fighting a losing battle with chronic overcrowding. Even with 3-car Pacers & a frequent service Barnsley to Meadowhall was very busy at all times of the day. Revenue protection staff where targeting certain trains at Meadowhall but gates at Barnsley would be a huge help. It seems like with national bus services, pensioners are able to use trains for free if living in this area & not sure if this is what has made the trains so busy as have not noticed it that bad before. Far & away the worst of all was last Wednesdays 17.57 Manchester Victoria to Huddersfield. After being impressed with a 180 leaving Oxford Road towards Preston i walked across the City. It was pleased that tickets were being checked at Victoria (as earlier at Piccadilly) & then saw a large crowd waiting at platform 4 around 17.50. Any hopes of another service due first soon proved fruitless as the 17.57 was shown as next service. Unfortunatly in ran a 2-car Pacer. We finally left around 18.05 after the guard was persueded to take this grossly overcrowded train after station staff ensured nobody else was permitted boarding & all doors would safely close (which then allows a tiny bit of extra breathing space as we move down onto the stairwell). Is this the norm on this service or is it worse since the closure of the Oldham loop? I must admit i did expect a double unit judging by the waiting mob.