Government loses patience with cancellations at train firm

Train services operated by TransPennine Express from Glasgow, Edinburgh and Lockerbie to Manchester Airport will be brought under Government control due to "continuous cancellations", Transport Secretary Mark Harper said.

He’s decided not to extend or renew the contract with Scottish-based First Group, bringing services in to the Department for Transport's Operator of Last Resort from May 28.

TPE passengers have suffered from widespread delays and cancellations over the past year with the latest figures showing it cancelled the equivalent of one in six services across most of March.

The firm been badly affected by drivers who are members of the Aslef union no longer volunteering to work paid overtime shifts.

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Improvements will take time

Mr Harper warned that the decision to bring services into the OLR is "not a silver bullet".

He 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 that the DfT has "played our part but Aslef now need to play theirs" by calling off strikes and the ban on rest day working.

It added: "The decision to bring TransPennine Express into the control of the Operator of Last Resort is temporary and it is the Government's full intention that it will return to the private sector."

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