In the dark at Hexham Station. Torchgate is the disappointing failure of Northern Rail to plan for the extension of the 7.41 train from Hexham to Newcastle, which is so popular with passengers that many have to stand for the journey. Thus, when they did put another carriages on the end of the train the drivers objected to walking in the dark to turn the train around - this disaster being compounded by the lack of a torch for a while.However, following last weeks debate in the House of Commons, when I raised the matter with the Minister for Transport, see HEREand then shone some light on the matter myself locally, as set out in the Journal HEREI am pleased to see that common sense may now prevail.
Unsurprisingly the Union, ASLEF, and the company Northern Rail, have now reached an agreement they should have reached ages ago and are assuring us, and the public, that the extra carriage will run next week, starting tomorrow. So:
I am delighted that there is light at the end of the tunnel
Out of darkness there is now hope and light, and
We can see clearly now
Enough of the bad metaphors ... here's hoping the extra carriage is there tomorrow!!
