‘No confidence’ in train operator as people lose faith’

Rail firm grilled by councillors and mayor makes ultimatum

- PAUL BRITTON

UNDER FIRE train operator TransPennine Express faced a grilling from councillors at a transport committee meeting - with one claiming there was ‘no confidence’ in the company or its plans ahead of the introduction today of the new nationwide rail timetable.

The mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham, meanwhile, confirmed in a message sent to the meeting that he would be asking for the company’s ‘contract to be terminated when it expires in May’ unless there’s a major reduction in cancellations by February.

He called the current performance by rail operators serving Greater Manchester ‘unacceptable and worse than the May 2018 timetable fiasco’. “People are losing faith in rail travel and have been forced into using their cars or not travelling at all,” he said in his message to the Greater Manchester Transport Committee, which was read out.