Some
long-distance
trains


on
the
West
Coast
Main
Line
have
been
cancelled
during
the
last
three
weeks
of
December.
The
cuts
have
triggered
new
criticism
of
Avanti
West
Coast,
which
almost
lost
its
government
contract
after
problems
with
performance
last
year.

After
two
six-month
probationary
periods
the
Department
for
Transport
granted
a
new
long-term
National
Rail
Contract
to
Avanti’s
owners
FirstGroup
and
Trenitalia,
which
began
on
15
October.

Avanti
said
the
reductions
would
be
temporary,
and
mainly
affected
the
London-Manchester
route.
They
are
intended
to
reduce
the
likelihood
of
cancellations
being
announced
at
short
notice.

One
insider
pointed
out
to
Railnews
that
there
would
still
be
around
40
daily
trains
between
London
and
Manchester
during
the
week,
with
31
on
Saturdays.
Most
Sunday
services
are
unaffected.

However,
the
drivers’
union
ASLEF
said
Avanti’s
explanation
was
‘nonsense’,
and
that
the
operator
was
letting
the
public
down
over
the
Christmas
period.

ASLEF
general
secretary
Mick
Whelan
said:
‘Avanti
West
Coast
has
consistently
let
down
rail
staff
and
the
great
British
public.
Not
employing
enough
drivers
to
deliver
the
services
it
has
promised
passengers
–
and
the
government
has
left
crucial
services
understaffed
and
undervalued.’

Avanti
added
that
it
had
withdrawn
peak-hour
restrictions
from
22
December
to
7
January,
to
spread
demand.