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Avanti West Coast ordered to 'drastically' improve rail services Avanti West Coast ordered to 'drastically' improve rail services
(about 1 hour later)
Rail firm Avanti West Coast has been warned it needs to "drastically improve services" after its contract to run the London to Glasgow line was extended by just six months.Rail firm Avanti West Coast has been warned it needs to "drastically improve services" after its contract to run the London to Glasgow line was extended by just six months.
The decision means it will continue to run services until next April, the Department for Transport said.The decision means it will continue to run services until next April, the Department for Transport said.
Avanti has come under fire after slashing its timetables in August. Trains between London and Manchester were the worst affected.Avanti has come under fire after slashing its timetables in August. Trains between London and Manchester were the worst affected.
It had apologised for the problems.It had apologised for the problems.
Transport Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan said services on Avanti have been "unacceptable".Transport Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan said services on Avanti have been "unacceptable".
"While the company has taken positive steps to get more trains moving, it must do more to deliver certainty of service to its passengers," she said."While the company has taken positive steps to get more trains moving, it must do more to deliver certainty of service to its passengers," she said.
"We have agreed a six-month extension to Avanti to assess whether it is capable of running this crucial route to a standard passengers deserve and expect.""We have agreed a six-month extension to Avanti to assess whether it is capable of running this crucial route to a standard passengers deserve and expect."
Rail firm should be stripped of contract - StarmerRail firm should be stripped of contract - Starmer
Government considers withdrawing Avanti contractGovernment considers withdrawing Avanti contract
The operator cut its timetable from seven trains per hour to a minimum of four per hour on 14 August and suspended ticket sales, blaming "severe staff shortages".The operator cut its timetable from seven trains per hour to a minimum of four per hour on 14 August and suspended ticket sales, blaming "severe staff shortages".
Avanti has relied in the past on workers doing overtime in order to run its services. It says that train drivers suddenly stopped volunteering for overtime in early August, resulting in the shortages.Avanti has relied in the past on workers doing overtime in order to run its services. It says that train drivers suddenly stopped volunteering for overtime in early August, resulting in the shortages.
The train drivers' union, Aslef, has strongly denied any accusations that there has been unofficial strike action.The train drivers' union, Aslef, has strongly denied any accusations that there has been unofficial strike action.
The Department for Transport said on Friday that more services have started to be added as new drivers become available to work, with nearly 100 additional drivers added this year between April and December.The Department for Transport said on Friday that more services have started to be added as new drivers become available to work, with nearly 100 additional drivers added this year between April and December.
The company is planning to increase services from 180 to 264 trains per day on weekdays as more drivers become available, and it is recruiting more train staff.The company is planning to increase services from 180 to 264 trains per day on weekdays as more drivers become available, and it is recruiting more train staff.
Avanti West Coast's contract had been due to expire on 16 October. Announcing the new short-term contract, the Department for Transport said it would "consider Avanti's performance" once the extension comes to an end on 1 April 2023.Avanti West Coast's contract had been due to expire on 16 October. Announcing the new short-term contract, the Department for Transport said it would "consider Avanti's performance" once the extension comes to an end on 1 April 2023.
FirstGroup, which owns Avanti West Coast in a joint venture with Italy's Trenitalia, said it was "committed" to providing services that meet the needs of customers and communities.FirstGroup, which owns Avanti West Coast in a joint venture with Italy's Trenitalia, said it was "committed" to providing services that meet the needs of customers and communities.
"Today's agreement allows our team at Avanti West Coast to sustain their focus on delivering their robust plan to restore services to the levels that passengers rightly expect," said Graham Sutherland, FirstGroup's chief executive."Today's agreement allows our team at Avanti West Coast to sustain their focus on delivering their robust plan to restore services to the levels that passengers rightly expect," said Graham Sutherland, FirstGroup's chief executive.
Avanti started running extra trains on its key London-Manchester and London-Birmingham routes at the end of September, and it has said that services will improve in December once nearly 100 drivers finish their training.Avanti started running extra trains on its key London-Manchester and London-Birmingham routes at the end of September, and it has said that services will improve in December once nearly 100 drivers finish their training.
The timetable cuts sparked widespread criticism and frustration.The timetable cuts sparked widespread criticism and frustration.
In September, Avanti West Coast's managing director Phil Whittingham stepped down amid an ongoing backlash over the reduced services.In September, Avanti West Coast's managing director Phil Whittingham stepped down amid an ongoing backlash over the reduced services.
Its director Barry Milsom also apologised "for the enormous frustration and inconvenience".Its director Barry Milsom also apologised "for the enormous frustration and inconvenience".
Before Avanti's recent problems, the expectation was a new contract lasting 10 years would be awarded. This would include continuing as the shadow operator for HS2.Before Avanti's recent problems, the expectation was a new contract lasting 10 years would be awarded. This would include continuing as the shadow operator for HS2.
Fast forward to this morning and what's been announced is only a short extension while a longer-term contract is negotiated.Fast forward to this morning and what's been announced is only a short extension while a longer-term contract is negotiated.
And it comes with a warning that things need to get better. Avanti has said its reduced timetable has improved reliability and does not rely on staff working overtime to fulfil services.And it comes with a warning that things need to get better. Avanti has said its reduced timetable has improved reliability and does not rely on staff working overtime to fulfil services.
However, it has acknowledged the inconvenience passengers have faced.However, it has acknowledged the inconvenience passengers have faced.
The situation has highlighted the rail industry's reliance on overtime, something ministers have said must change.The situation has highlighted the rail industry's reliance on overtime, something ministers have said must change.
Not everyone is happy with Avanti's recovery plan - on Thursday Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham said it should commit to a consistent two trains per hour between Manchester and London by the end of this month.Not everyone is happy with Avanti's recovery plan - on Thursday Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham said it should commit to a consistent two trains per hour between Manchester and London by the end of this month.
And after months of disruption, passengers will need to see for themselves that the service has become reliable again.And after months of disruption, passengers will need to see for themselves that the service has become reliable again.
'Not good enough''Not good enough'
On Thursday, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said Avanti should be stripped of its west coast mainline contract. Labour's shadow transport secretary Louise Haigh said the extension of the contract was a "reward for abject failure, and a slap in the face for passengers". Services between London Euston and Manchester were badly hit by Avanti's timetable cuts.
Sir Keir said the service provided by Avanti West Coast was "simply not good enough", and that it must improve. Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham said: "The damage that Avanti's failing service is inflicting on our economy, and the huge disruption to passengers, is completely unacceptable.
"I use those trains and know how frustrating it is," he told the BBC. Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham
Labour's shadow transport secretary Louise Haigh said the extension of the contract was a "reward for abject failure, and a slap in the face for passengers". "The company has shown itself to be unable to stabilise their service and fix problems with ticketing and the on-board experience for passengers.
She wrote in tweet: "This failing operator has caused travel misery, and the government's answer is to hand over millions more in taxpayers' cash and consign passengers to yet more chaos." "The thought of another six months of what we're currently experiencing is a huge concern."
Services between London Euston and Manchester were badly hit by Avanti's timetable cuts. Bev Craig, the leader of Manchester City Council, added: "We understand there is a date of 11 December for services to be put back up to what they were previously - that for us simply isn't good enough."
Bev Craig, the leader of Manchester City Council, said she was "incredibly disappointed" by the short-term extension to the contract.
"We understand there is a date of 11 December for services to be put back up to what they were previously - that for us simply isn't good enough," she told the BBC.
"I will be urging both the government and Avanti to put revised frameworks in place to get those operations back up and running as quickly as possible.
"We simply cannot cope any longer, the damage to the economy and the unreliability of travel is really, really impacting the ability to connect Manchester to London."