'It's plain as day your ability to deliver the December timetable has disappeared' - councillors rip into train operator TransPennine Express
Under-fire train operator TransPennine Express faced a grilling from councillors at a transport committee meeting today - with one claiming there was 'no confidence' in the company or its plans ahead of the introduction on Sunday of the new nationwide rail timetable.
"We are approaching a critical period with the new rail timetable coming in on Sunday, so it is time to set a clear test for the train companies," he said. "On Avanti, unless they restore three trains an hour by the end of December, I will be calling for the cancellation of their franchise and for the Government to bring in an Operator of Last Resort.
It comes as at least 47 TransPennine Express train services have either been fully cancelled or amended today - Friday. The train operator confirmed on Thursday night 29 services would be fully cancelled. A further 18 will be amended, with further short-notice cancellations and amendments to services likely throughout the day.
Mr Thomas admitted 'the start of the timetable is going to be challenging'. "It's not going to immediately get better, so we do recognise that," he said. "We are working extremely hard to put that right." Stockport councillor David Mellor said: "It's plain as day now isn't it that your ability to deliver the December timetable has disappeared? I think that's as clear as day.
"Even when you are on the train, even when you think it is going to where you think it is going to take you, it often does not. It seems that we have reason after reason after reason why you are not running a decent service."
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