OLDHAM MP Debbie Abrahams has demanded intervention after planned changes to train timetables will create up to a 44 minute gap on the Huddersfield to Manchester line at the busiest times of the day.

The MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth as written to the Secretary of State for Transport, Chris Grayling, demanding he intervene to overturn the plans and has raised the issue of the lack of direct travel to Ashton-Under-Lyne, Manchester Victoria, Salford Central and beyond in these proposals

Mrs Abrahams said: “Many of my constituents have built their whole working lifestyle around the current timetable.

“If these changes go ahead the new service will do little to take peak times into account, creating up to a 44 minute wait between trains at two of the busiest times of the day which is ridiculous.”

The proposed peak time trains from Greenfield to Manchester Piccadilly are: 06:46, 07:29, 07:45, 08:29.

She added: “If these proposals are implemented the 08:29 train will get my constituents into Piccadilly at 08:58 which will be of little use unless they work at the station.

“Clearly there needs to be a service between 07:45 and 08:29. Currently there is a train at 08:04 but this change will mean constituents have to leave 20 minutes earlier, to get on a busier train and some will have their child caring and other morning routines greatly disrupted.”

The proposed peak time trains from Manchester Piccadilly to Greenfield are: 16:17, 17:02, 17:18, 18:01.

“The 17:18 will be made incredibly busy by these changes," she continued.

"This is a service which is already uncomfortably full at peak times and this proposed timetable will only exacerbate the situation. The lack of a service between 17:18 and 18:01 will cost people quality time with their families.”

The current timetable has trains leaving Victoria at 17:11, 17:26 and 17:57.

Debbie said: “I’ve told Chris Grayling that some of my constituents work in the Spinningfields area of Manchester, Salford and Ashton and they are concerned about the impact that the new timetable will have on their journeys to and from work.

“It is a five minute walk from Salford Central to Spinningfields and this change to Piccadilly will turn it into a 25 minute walk.

"This combined with the proposed timetable I have highlighted will lead to even earlier starts and later finishes for my constituents."

She added that she is concerned about the extra pressure that this proposed timetable will have on congested roads as well as the Plus the possible impact on constituents’ health, and the environment, caused by the pollution of those needing to drive to work.

“My final point was to say that the proposals do little to tackle the ongoing issues with accessibility to Greenfield Station. I have previously written to the Department for Transport about the lack of step free access for those travelling from Manchester towards Huddersfield.

“It’s simply not good enough for my constituents including parents with prams, those using wheelchairs and those with mobility issues to be unable to access platform 2 at Greenfield Station. "And I have asked Mr Grayling to let me know what plans he has to ensure that Greenfield is a fully accessible station.”