{"id":74591,"date":"2022-12-14T12:58:04","date_gmt":"2022-12-14T12:58:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tahrir2day.com\/news\/2022\/12\/14\/poor-rail-services-caused-by-toxic-mix-mps-told\/"},"modified":"2022-12-14T12:58:04","modified_gmt":"2022-12-14T12:58:04","slug":"poor-rail-services-caused-by-toxic-mix-mps-told","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tahrir2day.com\/news\/2022\/12\/14\/poor-rail-services-caused-by-toxic-mix-mps-told\/","title":{"rendered":"Poor rail services caused by toxic mix, MPs told"},"content":{"rendered":"
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‘Unstable’ rail links in northern England are being caused by a ‘toxic combination’ of problems, MPs have heard.<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Thousands of trains have been canceled at short notice in recent months, including the TransPennine Express, Avanti West Coast and Northern.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Transport Focus’ Anthony Smith told the Transport Select Committee that people chose to drive because of disruptions.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Lord McLoughlin, chairman of Transport for the North, added there had been a “total disappointment” for rail travellers.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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He said railway companies had to deal with “unreliable services”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Anthony Smith was asked by the Transport Select Committee why operators in the north of England are struggling compared to those in other parts of the UK.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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“It’s a pretty toxic combination that’s different for every company,” he replied.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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“I think the problems at Avanti probably date back to the days of Virgin – the previous franchise – and the winding up of that franchise.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cThen Covid came along and made driver training difficult.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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“I understand these are some of the issues that led to the thinning of the schedule.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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He added: “Relationships between staff and management do not appear to be good and need to be reset in some way.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Lord McLoughlin, chairman of Transport for the North, which advises the government on the region’s transport needs, also gave testimony to MPs.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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He said: “One of the most important things for people who want to use the train is reliability and knowing that the service they want to use will be there.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cThis is the biggest problem that companies have to deal with.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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“There was a total disappointment with unreliable services, not being able to get tickets, not knowing if the services will be up and getting that information out as well.” <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Avanti West Coast, which cut its schedules in August to limit last-minute cancellations, resumed some of the lost services in new schedules introduced on Sunday. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Transport Secretary Mark Harper claimed it was “for unions to decide” whether they want rail services to improve in the north of England.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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  • “Commuting to work can cost me more than I earn”<\/li>\n
  • Government help needed over rail chaos – Mayor<\/li>\n
  • Harper says North railroads have a real problem<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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    In a written statement to Parliament, the Cabinet Secretary said he had given TransPennine Express and Northern “the leeway they need to make a meaningful and generous” offer for rest days to drivers’ union Aslef.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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    He wrote: “Aslef must enter into negotiations and present a new deal to its members and, if accepted, do whatever it takes to make that deal work.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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    “TransPennine made Aslef a generous revised offer and it was almost immediately rejected without being put to the members.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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    “It’s up to the unions to decide whether they want to improve services for the benefit of passengers and the wider economy in the North.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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    Mr Harper said he was in favor of “breaking the railroad’s reliance on rest day work altogether”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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    He added: \u201cNo modern and successful company relies on the good will of its employees to deliver for its customers in the evenings and at weekends.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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    “I want a railroad with rewarding jobs that are contractually bound to deliver all the services promised to the public.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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