A Merseyside MP has asked "why is the government rewarding gross incompetence" as Avanti West Coast was given a rail contact extension.
Wavertree MP Paula Barker criticised Transport Secretary Mark Harper's decision to offer the rail operator a further six-month extension despite its "terrible" service. Mr Harper offered the extension following the imposition of an improvement plan that he insists is working to improve the service.
The FirstGroup-owned operator deal was due to expire at the end of March but has now been extended until October 15. Transport Secretary Mark Harper said an improvement plan, produced by Avanti West Coast after the DfT previously handed the operator a six-month contract renewal in October 2022, "is working".
READ MORE: 'He was my best mate' dad's heartbreaking tribute to son killed in Speke crash
But Mr Harper's comments of "significant improvement" were met by cross-party scepticism in the House of Commons following yesterday's announcement. Among the MPs to question the government's decision to extend the contract was Ms Barker, who said: "During the period of Avanti’s improvement plan, the operator had the highest proportion of trains running more than 15 minutes late on record."
She added: "Why is the government rewarding this gross incompetence with yet another six-month extension?"
Mr Harper told MPs: "They have made significant improvement, enough to justify an extension until October. Is there more to do, there absolutely is. He said: "The most recent cancellation rate is down to 4.2% which is the lowest level in 12 months, which is quite a clear improvement and I have said that needs to be sustained, which is why they have only got an extension until October."
Mr Harper added: "I have been very clear with them that they need to deliver improvement in the next six-month period. So, the figures do speak for themselves and they demonstrate an operator which is turning things around but still has more to do."
The Transport Secretary admitted Avanti's performance last summer and autumn was "terrible", but added: "They have made significant improvements. They need to continue those improvements."
FirstGroup chief executive Graham Sutherland said: "We are working closely with government and our partners across the industry to deliver a successful railway for our customers and communities. Performance at Avanti is steadily improving and, since the introduction of the new timetable in mid-December, the number of services has increased by more than 40% compared to last summer, with more seats and better frequencies.
"Today’s agreement allows our team to continue their focus on delivering their robust plans to continue enhancing services for our customers, including further progress on our train upgrade and refurbishment programme."
The contract for TransPennine Express – another FirstGroup-owned operator with performance problems – expires on May 28. This will be "considered separately with a further announcement in due course", according to the Department of Transport.
READ NEXT:
Thomas Cashman murder trial resumes as man accused of shooting schoolgirl Olivia Pratt-Korbel
Police update after Mother's Day brawl breaks out in Baltic Triangle
'Knife pulled on parent' at children's football match
Man, in 20s, dies after crash on Speke Boulevard
New Look's 'incredible' £36 dress that's 'perfect for a spring wedding'
