TransPennine trains loses contract over poor service
But minister warns nationalisation is not a silver bullet
TRANSPENNINE Express services are being nationalised after bringing “untold misery to the North”.
Transport Secretary Mark Harper said the Government was taking over control but the move will not be a “silver bullet”.
Since Aslef members stopped working overtime shifts services have been in chaos. Around one in six trains were cancelled in March.
Mr Harper said: “In my time as Transport Secretary, I have been clear that passenger experience must always come first.
“After months of commuters and northern businesses bearing the brunt of continuous cancellations, I’ve made the decision to bring TransPennine Express into Operator of Last Resort.
“This is not a silver bullet and will not instantaneously fix a number of challenges being faced, including Aslef’s actions which are preventing TransPennine Express from being able to run a full service.”
He added the Department for Transport had “played our part but Aslef now need to play theirs” by calling off strikes and a rest day work ban.
Mr Harper said the move was just the “next stop on the line, it’s not the terminus station” and the services will be private-run in the future.
He added: “There will be some, unfortunately, who use today’s decision to further their ideological ends, to argue that this somehow justifies all rail contracts being brought under
public control. That would be a mistake.The majority of taxpayers do not use the railways regularly but they could be saddled with the huge cost of nationalisation only to inherit the industry’s problems with no plan to fix them. Nationalisation is a soundbite, not a solution and this Government will always be guided by the evidence to help make decisions.”
West Yorkshire Mayor
Tracy Brabin said it was “absolutely right that this is the end of the line” for the “failing railway operawith
tor”. She added: “This company has brought untold misery to the North and it is absolutely right that they’ve been held to account.” Graham Sutherland, boss of FirstGroup, owner of TransPennine Express, insisted the firm “worked extremely hard to improve services”. But Transport Focus said passengers have “endured an unacceptable service for too long”. The watchdog’s Anthony Smith said: “In our latest survey, TransPennine Express was rated the joint worst performing train operator and just 67 per cent of passengers were satisfied
how punctual their journey was. Passengers will want to see a more reliable service.
“It’s clear that passengers deserve better and the operator needs to take action to improve performance and build back passenger trust.”
Services will be brought under Operator of Last Resort from May 28.
It means around a quarter of rail journeys will be nationalised.
Aslef general secretary Mick Whelan accused Mr Harper of trying to blame his union “rather than the company’s inept management for its many problems”. Mr Whelan claimed TransPennine Express is getting “exactly what it deserves” as it has “never employed enough drivers”.
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The Leader of the Commons said she took “a couple of painkillers” before the epic occasion and advised any future sword bearers to “have a good breakfast” and “wear comfortable shoes”.
Stoicism, good sense, honesty and an exemplary work ethic are just the qualities a nation would look for in a leader.