Under-fire Avanti West Coast has reported a 'huge increase in capacity', with 93 trains per day now said to be leaving north and south from Manchester. Bosses have reported a 'vastly reduced' level of cancellations recently, although acknowledging some trains were still being taken out of service.
The operator's timetable alterations in December were described by a senior manager as 'the biggest improvement and change to the timetable on the West Coast Mainline since 2008' - and he said there was 'no reason' why the current three trains per hour service from Manchester Piccadilly to London Euston would change.
Avanti announced in August it was cutting the number of trains between Euston and Piccadilly from one every 20 minutes to one an hour 'until further notice', saying it had acted in the wake of industrial action 'to ensure a reliable service is delivered so customers can travel with greater certainty'.
