TPE rail operator apologises for delays

failure near Malton.

“We put on an additional service to help keep customers moving, but due to the severity of the problem this train was already half an hour late at York so had to be cancelled. We then sourced road transportation.

“One service was cancelled due to very late notice driver sickness.”

Newsome Green Party councillor Cooper called on rail bosses to “re-evaluate their positions” as commuters enter their fourth month of disruption after rail timetable changes in May.

He said: “The chaos on our rail network is really taking its toll on workers and students who travel between Leeds, Dewsbury, Huddersfield and Manchester for work or study.

“Our rail infrastructure is crumbling due to lack of investment and the management at the rail companies have failed to ensure that there are enough staff to cope with even the most minimal level of sickness absence. Transport Secretary Chris Grayling and the senior management at First TransPennine Express need to reconsider their positions and decide if they really are the right people to be responsible for our rail network.”

The TransPennine Express spokesman added: “Some of our services have been affected by delays since the introduction of the timetable in May.

“Around three-quarters of these delays have been caused by factors outside our direct control, principally infrastructure faults and delays on other operators’ services causing knock-on delay to our trains.

“Whatever the cause, this is not the level of service we want to provide for customers and we apologise for this.”