Business leaders in the north have delivered a stinging message to the Transport Secretary Mark Harper, warning him of a 'crisis on our rail network'. Members of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership have written to Mr Harper and told him a 'wave of cancellations is wreaking havoc on the Northern economy'.
The letter was signed by bosses at nearly 40 companies and organisations, including Manchester Airports Group, Virgin Money, The Piece Hall Trust and Hybrid Air Vehicles.
Bosses wrote that the reliance on drivers voluntarily working on their rest days to maintain TransPennine Express (TPE) services has contributed to hundreds of trains being cancelled in recent weeks. Collectively, the group called on Mr Harper to give operators 'the backing they need to negotiate a rest day working agreement'.
