Further six-month extension for ‘improving’ Avanti
for Transport has given Avanti West Coast a further six-month contract extension after the train operator has worked hard to improve the reliability of its services. AWC was awarded a short-term six-month contract by the DFT last October following poor performance, widespread cancellations and the introduction of an emergency timetable, with the company ordered to develop a recovery plan in the face of mounting criticism.
According to the DFT, since the recovery timetable was introduced on December 11 last year, AWC has shown significant improvements across its services:
■ Weekday services have risen to their highest levels in more than two years.
■ Cancellations have been reduced from nearly 25% of the total service in August 2022 to 4.2% in early March 2023 – the lowest level in more than 12 months.
■ 90% of trains are now arriving at their destination within 15 minutes of the booked time.
■ More than 100 additional drivers have been recruited by AWC, reducing reliance on union-controlled overtime working.
Transport Secretary Mark Harper said: “The routes Avanti West Coast run are absolutely vital and I fully understand the frustrations passengers felt at the completely unacceptable services seen last autumn. “Following our intervention, Rail Minister Huw Merriman and I have worked closely with local leaders to put a robust plan in place, which I’m glad to see is working.
“However, there is still more work to be done to bring services up to the standards we expect, which is why further improvements will need to be made by Avanti West Coast over these next six months.
“Although Avanti West Coast has made significant progress in the past six months, further work needs to be done to restore reliability and punctuality to the standards that passengers rightly expect.
“This will include delivering more reliable weekend services, continued reductions in cancellations, and improvements in passenger information during planned and unplanned disruption.”
Responding to the announcement, Firstgroup chief executive officer Graham Sutherland said: “We are working closely with the Government and our partners in the industry to deliver a successful railway for our customers and communities. “Performance at Avanti is steadily improving and since the introduction of the new timetable in mid-december, the number of services operated has increased by more than 40% compared to last summer, with more seats and better frequencies.
“This agreement allows our team to continue their focus on delivering their robust plans to continue enhancing services for our customers, including further progress on our train upgrade and refurbishment programme.” Meanwhile, Firstgroup has announced the appointment of Andy Mellors as managing director of AWC with immediate effect, replacing Phil Whittingham, who left the role in September. Mr Mellors has held senior roles at Great Western Railway, South Western Railway and most recently as managing director of Firstgroup’s non-franchised rail businesses.
First Rail managing director Steve Montgomery has been overseeing AWC on an interim basis since Mr Whittingham’s departure.