South Yorkshire Mayor criticises East Midlands Railway service reductions
Oliver Coppard reacts to reduced intercity rail services between Sheffield and London
South Yorkshire’s Mayor, Oliver Coppard, has voiced strong concerns regarding East Midlands Railway's (EMR) decision to cut services between London and Sheffield starting Monday, 20th July.
This afternoon, at approximately 2:45 pm, EMR informed the mayor of service reductions but provided limited details.
Mayor Coppard highlighted potential losses of up to half the usual services and fewer train carriages.
"My officers met with EMR's stakeholder team last week and nothing was mentioned," Coppard said.
The cuts are presented as a 'temporary measure' though no timeline has been provided.
Reasons and Reactions to Service Reductions
After speaking with Rail Minister, Lord Peter Hendy, Coppard indicated that the reductions might relate to the recent crash in Bedford where EMR lost two trains.
The mayor also suspects issues with new train models introduced, which were delayed by three years.
Regardless of the reason, Coppard condemned the late communication to passengers, stating "there is never a good reason to treat passengers with so much contempt."
With many passengers unaware of changes, overcrowding and delays are anticipated.
"We’re now facing a summer of chaos on the railways," Coppard warned, committing to address these concerns urgently with EMR's Managing Director.