Business chiefs warn of ‘crisis on rail network’
BUSINESS leaders in northern England have warned the Transport Secretary there is a “crisis on our rail network”.
Members of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership have written to Mark Harper warning that a “wave of cancellations is wreaking havoc on the Northern economy”.
They wrote that the reliance on drivers voluntarily working on their rest days to maintain Transpennine Express (TPE) services has contributed to hundreds of trains being cancelled in recent weeks.
The group called on Mr Harper to give operators “the backing they need to negotiate a rest day working agreement”.
Disruption suffered by Avanti West Coast passengers due to many drivers not working overtime will “pale in comparison” with what will happen in the North if a deal is not reached by the time new direct services between locations such as Hull and Liverpool are introduced when timetables change next month, according to the letter.
A Department for Transport spokeswoman said the Government “is working closely with train operators to ensure new drivers are swiftly recruited”.