Transpennine Express to come under DfT control

The Transport Secretary has announced that Transpennine Express will be brought under the control of the Department of Transport’s (DfT) Operator as Last Resort when FirstGroup’s contract to run the franchise ends on 28th May.

The move follows significant disruption for the rail company’s passengers as Transpennine Express has struggled to resolve driver shortages, a problem exacerbated by ongoing industrial action by train drivers’ union, ASLEF, whose members are withdrawing rest day working. The DfT decision hopes that a change in leadership at the rail company will help to address Transpennine Express’ poor performance, with a return to the private sector the long term goal of government.

Transport Secretary, Mark Harper said:

“In my time as Transport Secretary, I have been clear that passenger experience must always come first. After months of commuters and Northern businesses bearing the brunt of continuous cancellations, I’ve made the decision to bring Transpennine Express into Operator of Last Resort.”

In the short term, under the Operator of Last Resort services will run as normal with no changes to tickets, timetables or planned services. Moving forward and in order to address challenges being faced on Transpennine Express routes, the DfT will review services in the North to help drive efficiency and find better ways to deliver for passengers across the region. The rail operator runs key routes between cities across the North, including services to Liverpool and Sheffield from Stockport.

Transpennine Express has been on a recovery plan since February to improve its intercity services between cities across the North. The rail operator has attracted the ire of metro-mayors from city-regions served by its routes, who have regularly put pressure on the Transport Secretary in recent months to call for Transpennine Express to be brought under DfT control.

West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin, who has been the most vocal critic of the rail company’s performance, commented:

“It is absolutely right that this is the end of the line for failing railway operator Transpennine Express.

“We’ve been urging government to act for almost a year, as delays and cancellations have damaged our economy and subjected commuters in the North to sheer misery.

“This is a victory for Northern Mayors who rallied together to hold Transpennine Express and Rishi Sunak’s government to account on this issue.

“We hope this allows an opportunity to reset relationships with staff who have bore the brunt of operator failings, and look forward to hearing how the new operator intends to improve services – as the voice of passengers, I will continue to speak up for their interests first and foremost.”

Greater Manchester Mayor, Andy Burnham, also expressed his support for the Transport Secretary’s decision, commenting on Twitter:

“As Mayors, we have spoken up consistently for long-suffering rail passengers in the North. I am glad the Government has listened. We will now work with them to restore trust in train services and build a railway people can rely on.”