A move by a major train operator to slash timetables and suspend ticket sales has been labelled an 'outrage' and 'completely unacceptable' by leading Merseyside politicians.
Avanti West Coast will run as little as four trains per hour from Sunday instead of its usual seven services an hour that it usually runs on the West Coast Main Line. The firm said the limited timetable will be in place 'until further notice.'
Avanti has temporarily suspended ticket sales from August 14 to September 11. The company has been widely criticised for blaming the 'current industrial relations climate' and 'unofficial strike action' for its staff shortages. The Aslef union says there is no strike action taking place and Avanti has simply not employed enough drivers.
READ MORE: Avanti to operate reduced service until further notice amid union dispute
Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram has now written to Transport Secretary Grant Shapps, in which he states that the 'current situation on what is supposed to be the country's premier intercity rail network is completely unacceptable.' Mayor Rotheram told Mr Shapps that the current hourly service between London and Liverpool is already 'completely inadequate' and said it is 'ironic' to see other cities now 'facing the catastrophic reductions in service that puts them on a par with our own sub-optimal provision.'
Mayor Rotheram also demanded assurances from Mr Shapps that promises of a half hourly service between Liverpool and London will be kept. He added: "I am particularly proud that even post-pandemic, this route has seen some of the strongest recovery of any intercity route in the country, but the current Avanti franchise is meant to include the introduction of a half hourly service giving our region two trains each hour to and from the capital. I seek a guarantee from you that this commitment will be delivered as per the agreed timetable. This is a service enhancement that is long overdue and let me be clear: we will accept no dilution on this commitment."
Speaking about the staffing issues, he added: "Train driving is a skilled job that offers strong careers, secure employment and good pay. But it is estimated that that a further 3,600 drivers - an additional 20% of the workforce - are required to stop the industry's reliance on overtime." He urged the Transport Secretary to launch a national train driver recruitment campaign to improve the 'resilience and capacity' within the sector.
Avanti have also been heavily criticised by Liverpool Walton MP Dan Carden. He said: "The massive cuts to train services at Avanti West Coast are an outrage, as are the company's cynical attempts to shift the blame onto staff. Even worse is the Government's complicity, showing Ministers once again taking the side of corporations over passengers and workers."
He urged Mr Shapps to meet with rail unions urgently, adding: "If Avanti is unable to operate the franchise, it should be brought into public ownership and run in the interests of people, not profits."
A Department for Transport spokesperson said: “People deserve certainty and confidence that their train will run on time, and while this move was unavoidable, it should minimise the fallout for passengers.
“This is a prime example of why we need to modernise our railways, so that passengers benefit from reliable timetables which don’t rely on the goodwill of drivers volunteering to work overtime in the first place.”
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