Business leaders from across Greater Manchester have written to the Transport Secretary Grant Shapps and Avanti West Coast MD, Phil Whittingham, calling for a full timetable of train services between Manchester and the capital to be restored.
The West Coast Mainline rail operator has cut its timetable to four hourly trains across its whole network, with just one service each hour from London Euston to Stockport and Manchester Piccadilly as train drivers are no longer working voluntary overtime shifts on rest days amid ongoing pay negotiations.
In their letter, city-region business leaders have called for services to be restored, describing the restricted timetable as “damaging prospects for economic growth” in the wake of increasing pressure on businesses from inflation and in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic. The business community also hit out at the restrictions on ticket sales that were causing disruption and uncertainty for visitors, with ticket sales for services on the Bank Holiday Monday not available to purchase prior to the weekend.
Safety concerns related to overcrowding on trains and stations were also cited as reasons to urgently resume a full timetable of trains.
The full letter to Avanti’s MD and the Transport Secretary has been published in full on the Greater Manchester Local Enterprise Partnership website.
Greater Manchester Mayor, Andy Burnham, is also set to publish a further statement on 3rd September following receipt of Avanti West Coast’s plans for the restoration of services. He has additionally called for the rail operator to improve communications with customers, release tickets for sale earlier, and resolve maintenance issues on trains and platforms.
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