TransPennine answer questions from Lockerbie rail users over 'appalling' service
TransPennine Express has apologised once again to passengers for its recent poor performance on the west coast mainline.
Company bosses met with some of the most badly affected rail users at Lockerbie train station today.
In the last month at Lockerbie, 215 trains were cancelled and only one third ran on time.
This comes at the same time as fare increases of up to 37.5%, and the permanent cancellation of the popular 10.32 train to Edinburgh.
The company introduced the new "Nova" fleet in November of last year. At the time, the Managing Director said:
In today's meeting, the company blamed the problems on the new trains. They say that their delivery was delayed, which had a knock-on effect so that there was less time for them to prepare drivers.
TransPennine promised today that the service will improve once all drivers have had the appropriate training.
In 2017, customers reported that they were 'highly satisfied' with the service provided by the company.
However, at the beginning of this month Labour MP Colin Smyth called for TransPennine to lose its contract on the line.
David Mundell, MP for Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale has suggested the company should be "hauled over the coals" by the UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps over the "appalling" service.
Yesterday another of our region's operators, Northern, was re-nationalised, in a drastic move by the Government after two years of disruption.
TransPennine bosses have promised to come back for a 'wider community meeting' with passengers next month, while they work to improve their service.
Related articles: