East Riding Council to ask for meeting with TransPennine Express over last-minute cancellations
It's affecting rail services including at peak times
East Riding Council is set to ask TransPennine Express for a meeting over last-minute cancellations affecting rail services, including at peak times.
East Riding Council’s Infrastructure Portfolio Holder Cllr Claire Holmes said cancellations were happening to due staff illnesses and strikes, with current recruitment and training levels unable to fill the gap.
Willerby and Kirk Ella’s Cllr Ben Weeks, who raised the issue with the portfolio holder last week, said cancellations were often happening at short notice during peak times.
It comes as the rail company said higher than normal sickness levels due to coronavirus continued to affect its services, with the pandemic also resulting in a backlog in training.
TransPennine Express added it had to make changes at short notice so the rest of the timetable could run efficiently, but tried to do so at least a day before.
But it also said people using its services should check them carefully, including up to the last minute, for any changes and allow more time for travelling.
Cllr Weeks said in last week’s full council meeting he had seen services cancelled repeatedly at the last minute.
He called on the infrastructure portfolio holder to meet with him and the company to find a solution.
Cllr Holmes said TransPennine Express’ difficulties in running services according to its timetable had also been raised at a regional level.
The portfolio holder said: “It causes inconvenience to all concerned, including workers, students and people attending medical appointments.
“So it’s appropriate to ask for a meeting with managers to discuss a solution.”
TransPennine Express said it tried to change or cancel services the day before they were due to run, and ideally several days before, to give as much notice as possible.
But it added there could still be challenges for some services on the day they were supposed to run meaning they could be cancelled or changed at short notice.
The company said: “We are sorry for any disruption that this may cause to journeys in the coming days.
“If a service you had planned to travel on does not operate, your ticket will be valid on the previous or next available TransPennine Express service at no extra charge.
“Your TransPennine Express ticket maybe valid for travel with other operators.”