Mp's across Humber region call for TransPennine Express to be stripped of franchise

Humber MPs have united in a call for TransPennine Express to lose its rail franchise, branding its services appalling and unreliable.

Hull’s Diana Johnson, Emma Hardy and Karl Turner, Goole’s Andrew Percy and Lincolnshire MPs Martin Vickers, Holly Mumby-Croft and Lia Nici called for TransPennine Express to lose its franchise.

The MPs jointly wrote they had all spent too many hours waiting for TransPennine Services and accused the company of mismanagement and making excuses to explain away delays and cancellations.

A TransPennine Express spokesperson said the company knew the service offered to customers was unacceptable and was working to fix the underlying causes.

It comes as passengers travelling out of Hull on TransPennine Express trains to Leeds, Manchester and elsewhere have been plagued by delays and last minute cancellations for months.

The company, which runs Hull Paragon Interchange, cancelled 55 trains in one day in October when unions were not on strike.

Passengers have also spoken about trains being cancelled minutes before their scheduled departure.

TransPennine Express’ spokesperson said prolonged disruption was being caused by a number of issues.

They said: “We provide a hugely important service to communities across the North and Scotland.

“Disruption has been caused by a combination of ongoing high levels of sickness and an unprecedented training backlog following the pandemic, coupled with increased training demands to support major route and timetable upgrades, together with the withdrawal from overtime working by ASLEF drivers which has dramatically reduced our roster flexibility.”

The spokesperson added the main issue was ASLEF’s rejection of an overtime offer but union lead for TransPennine Express Andy Hourigan branded said the claim was smoke and mirrors.

The north and south bank MPs wrote in their letter to Transport Secretary Mark Harper it and others were among many excuses used by the company to defend poor services.

They added the problems and a lack of investment in Hull Paragon station meant they should lose their franchise which expires this May.

They said: “Over the last 14 months, passengers attempting to travel on the supposedly hourly TransPennine Express service have frequently been subjected to gaps in services lasting multiple hours.

“Passengers are left none the wiser and completely let down by an uninterested franchise holder.

“This is a service that we as local MPs rely on to get us between our constituencies and the East Coast Main Line as we travel to and from Westminster.

“As such, we are acutely aware of the appalling service on offer having spent far too many hours in Doncaster station waiting for a TransPennine Express train.

“Some months ago, an amended timetable was printed which, it was said, would provide certainty, it has done the exact opposite.

“We appreciate that all rail operators have been under pressure owning to the coronavirus pandemic followed by a change in approach to rest-day working by rail unions.

“However, it is notable that TransPennine Express services are cancelled far more than those run by other companies that serve our region.

“This suggests there is a significant problem with management, there is always another excuse.”

ASLEF’s Mr Hourigan said the company did not know how to run a railway after it accused the union of walking away from a deal to resume working on rest days.

The union official said: “I have spent a lifetime on the railway and TransPennine Express is the worst company with which I have had to deal.

“Relations between employers and employees are at an all-time low.

“The company talks about rest day working but we have not had a meeting with TransPennine about it this year, since long before Christmas, in fact.

“It’s all smoke and mirrors from a company that wants to blame anyone else for its manifest failures and problems which are entirely of its own making.”