Does it sound like First group are running the Transpennine Express train service the same as they run the South Yorkshire bus service? Or is Mr Fox exaggerating? Did anyone here experience this?

FOOTBALL fans from Sheffield travelling to Manchester to watch England play Wales queued for hours only to be crammed into trains "like sardines", says a leading figure in a rail watchdog group.
Peter Fox, chairman of the Hope Valley Line Users Group, accused train operators of "not caring less" about passengers and said they did nothing to help alleviate overcrowding on Saturday.
He said the scene at Sheffield Station was "a total shambles" with people having to wait between three and four hours to board trains and scramble to find somewhere to stand.
"The operators were totally pathetic, basically they could not care less about passengers. People were crammed in like sardines and there were more people standing than sitting."
Two services link Sheffield and Manchester. First Trans Pennine Express operate an hourly service from Cleethorpes to Manchester Airport and Central Trains have an hourly service from Norwich to Liverpool.
Mr Fox said both trains had just two carriages - but they should have had six to help get people to and from the match.
He said the service is regularly overcrowded with commuters travelling to Manchester and back.
Mr Fox said he had complained to the Strategic Rail Authority about daily overcrowding, but has "got nowhere". The matter is now with Sheffield Hallam MP Richard Allan.
Both Central Trains and First Trans Pennine were unavailable for comment today.

(story from SheffieldToday.net)

It's about time Mr Fox stuck his head up his back side and blew his nose until the pressure equalises.

Not bad from a fella who makes money out of the railway taking photographs and publishing them - Entrain magazine. Sad man.

I get the train over to manchester to see my g/f every other friday or so, and i have had to take to bunking off work a couple of hours early so as not to take the train around rush hour. They never seem to have enough carriages on the train and even travelling at 3.30 i often have trouble getting a seat.

I have been on the train a couple of times when the driver has had to say "some people have to get off or this train isn't leaving sheffield" because its been too busy.

It is a really unpleasant journey when its busy and i wish first would either:
a) run more carriages, or
b) run more trains

basshedz

They have bought new trains and these are being built providing three coaches and coupled as six at weekends according to a manager I know from TransPennine. I'm afraid it isn't a quick solution. The best idea all round is follow the RMT advise of renationalisation.

It was bad though. I've never seen Sheffield platforms so full. I was crammed onto a train and stood almost with my face touching the galss on the doors. It was a joke.
Oh and just because you make money out if doesn't mean you can't criticise it or complain.
He actually makes some valid points.

Fox would find something to complain about in heaven.

I trust you have submitted your complaint. And also if you had a seat reservation and not had it honoured included a compensation claim.

www.firstgroup.com/tpexpress (Transpennine Express)
www.centraltrains.co.uk (Central Trains)

And if they've any sense at the other end, they'll just print it off then chuck it in the bin.

Compare this with what the equivelant train operator that runs to Cardiff for Wales matches at Millenium stadium - a whole list of special trains. The operator - Arriva Trains Wales - yes, that's the Arriva that lost the Transpennine franchise to First group.

http://www.arrivatrainswales.co.uk/en/news/news_releases2.php?categoryID=46&article=503&sub_subnavID=&subnavID=134

The operators won't put extra coaches on because the route runs from Cleethorpes->Manchester / Norwich->Liverpool, and for 80%+ of the distance two or three coaches gives more than enough space. It's only for the two stops from Sheffield to Manchester that there's a problem.

There was nothing to stop them attatching extra coaches at Sheffield for the football fans, then detatching them on return to Sheffield. Arriva did this when Sheffield United played at Old Trafford a couple of years back. Or has First Group got rid of any spare rolling stock to save money?