Huddersfield has topped the charts for the highest rate of train cancellations in the country, and Labour’s prospective parliamentary candidate for Huddersfield, Harpreet Uppal, is looking to expose the impact this has had on residents.
As of 31 July 2023, Huddersfield had seen more than 5,500 scheduled trains cancelled – the highest rate in the country at 13% – BBC research found. Through the first part of a campaign for this Autumn, Ms Uppal is seeking to highlight the pressures faced by Huddersfield residents and will demand action from the government.
Harpreet Uppal said: “These figures are appalling and the Government needs to take responsibility to fix the mess our trains are in. Passengers can’t keep facing these delays and uncertainty -many people no longer feel they can rely on the trains whether it’s for work, education or visiting family and friends.
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“That’s why I am launching a ‘call for evidence’ from Huddersfield residents to hear directly from them about the impact of delays and cancellations. I’m asking local people to tell me their stories so I can give real life examples to the Government to show the impact the broken rail system is having on our community.
“The next Labour government will end this sticking plaster politics by bringing our railways back into public ownership as contracts expire, ending the Tories’ failing system, and putting passengers back at the heart of our rail network.”
(Image: Harpreet Uppal)
TransPennine Express (TPE), which serves Huddersfield, was brought under government control in May due to repeated cancellations and delays, in a bid to ease the number of disruptions to passengers. Before it was nationalised, TPE had the highest cancellation rate of all train operators, according to data from the Office of Rail and Road, with the equivalent of one in six services being cancelled in March.
Huddersfield residents are asked to email Ms Uppal at: harpreet@harpreet4huddersfield.com with their experiences of train travel to and from Huddersfield. Residents are asked to reply by October, 8.
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