The train operator Avanti West Coast has been given a short-term contract by the Department of Transport and challenged it to deliver the urgent increase in services required.
The operator has been heavily criticised for the cutbacks to its service which has seen trains between Manchester and London cut from three to one per hour
Yesterday Labour leader Kier Starmer called for it to be stripped of its franchise
Now the Government has given it six months to sort out its problems
The short-term extension will see it continue to run services on the route until 1 April 2023.
This window is designed to provide Avanti with the opportunity to improve their services. The government will then consider Avanti’s performance while finalising a National Rail Contract that will have a renewed focus on resilience of train services and continuity for passengers.
However Greater Manchester’s Mayor Andy Burnham said
“ A lack of an acceptable rescue plan from the company – and clear conditions from the Government – means very few people in Greater Manchester will support this extension.
“The damage that Avanti’s failing service is inflicting on our economy, and the huge disruption to passengers, is completely unacceptable. The company has shown itself to be unable to stabilise their service and fix problems with ticketing and the on-board experience for passengers. The thought of another six months of what we’re currently experiencing is a huge concern.
“From here, Greater Manchester is calling for a new approach from the Government. First, we want day-to-day monitoring and week-to-week public reporting on performance to be introduced. Second, we ask the Government to set a review point in mid-December in consultation with Mayors and leaders from London, West Midlands, Greater Manchester, Liverpool, Glasgow and Edinburgh. If Avanti are still not delivering the full timetable and an acceptable service at that point, that will allow time for arrangements to be made for a new operator to be place from April 2023.”
