Fenland rail cuts 'slap in the face' and 'beyond disgusting' says Cambridgeshire's mayor

Local MP Steve Barclay and Cambridgeshire's mayor James Palmer have said they will fight to stop three Fenland rail services from being axed.

Operator CrossCountry Trains announced last week services to Manea and Whittlesea, which were withdrawn in April as part of measures to deal with the impact of the pandemic, would not be resumed.

In a move lambasted by Mayor Palmer as " beyond disgusting", CrossCountry said the cuts were down to "resource issues".

Mr Barclay, MP for North East Cambs, said he was "surprised" to learn of CrossCountry's decision and posting on his Facebook page, said:"This news was a surprise given that the Government is currently funding train operators for the impact of Covid with billions of pounds of support.

“I know these services are hugely important locally and I will do everything I can to ensure they are continued.”

He said he had contacted rail minister Chris Heaton Harris, who having investigated, had promised to make sure it does not happen and is working to have services back from September 21.

In a statement issued on Thursday Mayor Palmer said covid-19 "must not be used as an excuse to cut Fenland lifeline services".

He labelled CrossCountry's treatment of the travelling public as "nothing short of appalling".

Adding: "This is the latest slap in the face as they choose this time, when everyone is vulnerable and struggling to get back to school and work, to cut what was an already-poor stopping service at the Fenland stations.

“This is urgent and we continue to liaise with the Department for Transport and Network Rail. We are determined that the community must not suffer and we’re pushing hard to get all the services reinstated, or an alternative operator to make stops.

"It is completely unacceptable behaviour from CrossCountry. This is a massive issue for the Fenland community, who need better services, not worse.

“The Mayoral Combined Authority is pouring money into these stations to regenerate Fenland, benefit the communities there, and help the travelling public in general, and it is beyond disgusting that CrossCountry should just switch off services in this contemptuous and high-handed fashion.

"Everyone in the country is being asked to work together to get the UK back on its feet and CrossCountry is standing out as a company which can’t be counted on, which fails to deliver when needed, and which is making itself part of the problem, not part of the solution.

"The kind of unreliability shown by CrossCountry means we will redouble our efforts on behalf of passengers, lobbying loudly and hard for improvements to services at these stations. I am extremely unhappy with this company, and disappointed that they were so easily given renewal to operate on that line.

“Of course, I appreciate the pressures placed on transport operators by Covid-19. While some temporary reduction in services might be necessary, this must not be used by Cross Country as an excuse to cut lifeline services in what is already one of the least connected parts of the country."

“The truth is, our efforts to improve Fenland rail travel have always been frustrated by CrossCountry. I have pushed for better stopping services at March, Manea and Whittlesea – and for the Stansted to Birmingham service to be expanded to give greater opportunity to the Fenland communities. And now, instead of improvements, CrossCountry announces cuts. People need services to be more frequent, not less, and they need later-night services too. I have been constantly exasperated by Cross Country’s failure to come to the table on any of these key improvements."

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