Manchester Task Force (MTF)

In January 2020 Steer was asked by Network Rail and the Department for Transport to form the Manchester Task Force (MTF) to address the unacceptable levels of train performance in the northwest of England.

Performance had fallen sharply following the introduction of a problematic timetable in May 2018 causing delays and cancellations which were dramatically affecting passengers. More trains were added to the central Manchester network, and so once implementation issues were rectified performance did not fully recover, highlighting structural issues with the timetable.

Steer has provided technical analysis, strategic advice, leadership and administrative support to the Task Force. MTF agreed a strategy in June 2020 comprising:

• Short-term initiatives to recover performance.
• A medium-term timetable change to address the structural issues associated with May 2018.
• A long-term investment programme to unlock development of the network.

The medium-term timetable change was implemented in December 2022, and sought to address complexity inherent in the timetable.

An industry-wide timetable development programme was established to address the issues and deliver a new timetable for Manchester, overseen by MTF. The programme included public consultation as well as stakeholder and funder briefing, all supported by evidence assembled by MTF.

The MTF December 2022 timetable has delivered the forecast performance improvement:

• Average delays across all service groups through central Manchester have reduced by 40% in comparison with 2019/20, against the forecast of 20-25%.
• Northern’s reactionary delays in Manchester resulting from network congestion have reduced by 40%.

• Peak capacity has maintained for passengers travelling into Manchester, delivered through slightly fewer but longer trains.

In May 2023, Rail Minister Huw Merriman announced a £72 million package of funding to deliver a third platform at Salford Crescent station and track improvement work across north Manchester to help reduce delays, bottlenecks and station overcrowding. These schemes were identified for the next stage of development of Manchester’s rail network by MTF.