Greater Manchester delegation meets with Avanti West Coast over timetable reduction

A delegation of representatives from Greater Manchester have met with Avanti West Coast management to discuss a way forward after significant timetable reductions by the train operator.

Deputy Leader of Manchester City Council, Cllr Luthfur Rahman, the city-region’s Transport Commissioner, Vernon Everitt and Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham met with Avanti’s senior management to express their dissatisfaction at the withdrawal of services and to invite the train company to produce a plan for ending the crisis.

The amended timetable, due to train drivers refusing overtime on rest days amid ongoing industrial action, means only a single service is operating each hour each way from London Euston to Stockport and Manchester Piccadilly. Similar service reductions are also in place on services from Euston to Glasgow, Liverpool and Birmingham, a two-hourly service to Edinburgh, and with no trains running between Crewe and North Wales, and only a single daily train to Chester. Advanced ticket sales for Avanti trains are also being restricted until further notice to minimise passenger numbers while the reduced timetable is in effect.

Planned strike action by train guards, organised by the RMT, also means no Avanti services will call at Stockport on Saturday 20th August and rail company is urging against all unnecessary train travel due to the severely reduced service.

After having met with Avanti West Coast senior management on 17th August, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham said:

“Today we met Avanti to discuss the downgrading of the timetable for its services between Greater Manchester and London.

“We made clear to them in no uncertain terms our deep unhappiness at the way in which our city-region has been treated.

“The severe reduction of services at this time of year is seriously detrimental to our economy. Avanti’s decision to take this action without any prior consultation or even notification shows a lack of respect for our city-region and its people, businesses and visitors.

“We have asked Avanti to produce a recovery plan that helps passengers in the short-term but which also commits to providing more trains per hour between Greater Manchester and London as quickly as possible.

“In the immediate term, we have asked Avanti to consider the declassification of trains – suspending first class restrictions – to make more seats available on the booking system at an affordable price.

“We also called for much clearer communications with customers about how and when to purchase tickets and for an end to the inflammatory language which is damaging workforce relations.

“More broadly, we asked them for a timetable to return to the previous levels of service as soon as possible and a firm commitment that we will not find ourselves in such a position ever again.

“When we receive Avanti’s plan, we will consider whether it is acceptable for our residents and businesses and, if it isn’t, we made it clear to the company that we will ask the new Prime Minister to strip them of this contract.”

The reduced services have also been accompanied by large crowds and restricted boarding at London Euston station, while passengers disembarking a delayed service at Oxenholme station in the Lake District on Thursday night had to be let off the platform by the police after finding gates locked by Avanti staff.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has also come under fire for his handling of the timetable changes after erroneously commenting on BBC Breakfast that services had been reduced to four trains per hour between Euston and Manchester, rather than four trains per hour across the entire network.