TransPennine Express to be brought under Government control says Transport Secretary

Video report by Granada Reports journalist Zoe Muldoon

Train services run by TransPennine Express will be brought under Government control due to "continuous cancellations", the Transport Secretary has said.

Mark Harper has decided not to extend or renew TransPennine's contract, bringing services in to the Department for Transport’s Operator of Last Resort (OLR) from 28 May.

The Cabinet minister said the decision was due to "commuters and Northern businesses bearing the brunt of continuous cancellations".

The significant disruption has led to a decline in confidence for passengers who rely on TransPennine (TPE) trains to get to work, visit family and friends and go about their daily lives.

TPE passengers have suffered from widespread delays and cancellations over the past year.

The FirstGroup-owned operator, which covers an area across northern England and into Scotland, has been badly affected by drivers who are members of the Aslef union no longer volunteering to work paid overtime shifts.

Latest figures show TPE cancelled the equivalent of one in six services across most of March.

Mr Harper warned that the decision to bring services into the OLR is "not a silver bullet".

Mr 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."

The Department for Transport said while some improvements have been made over the past few months, the contract and the underlying relationships must be reset to achieve the performance levels passengers deserve.

Mr Harper warned that bringing the operator under government control will not instantly fix issues with the service, including ASLEF’s actions which are preventing TPE from being able to run a full service.

He continued: “We have played our part, but ASLEF now need to play theirs by calling off strikes and the rest day working ban, and putting the very fair and reasonable pay offer to a democratic vote of their members.”

Under Operator of Last Resort, services will run as normal with no changes to tickets, timetables or planned services with the Department committed to ensuring a seamless transition for passengers.

• Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham says the news is "light at the end of the tunnel"

Responding to the Government’s announcement that TransPennine Express will not be handed a renewed contract, West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin said: "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."

Anthony Smith, chief executive of watchdog Transport Focus, said passengers just wanted to see a "much more reliable service".

He said: "TransPennine Express passengers have endured an unacceptable service for too long.

"In our latest survey, TransPennine Express was rated the joint worst performing train operator and just 67% of passengers were satisfied with how punctual their journey was.

"Whichever organisation runs TransPennine Express rail services – under whatever contractual arrangements – passengers will want to see a much more reliable service.

"It’s clear that passengers deserve better and the operator needs to take action to improve performance and build back passenger trust.”

The Department for Transport has said decision to bring TransPennine Express into the control of the Operator of Last Resort is temporary and it is the Government’s full intention that it will return to the private sector.

Graham Sutherland, chief executive of TransPennine Express owner FirstGroup, said: "We have operated TransPennine Express and its forerunners since 2004, and are very proud to have served the communities across northern England and into Scotland, carrying millions of passengers and introducing new trains, new routes and more seats for our customers.

"Our team have worked extremely hard to improve services, including by recruiting and training more drivers than ever before.

"We have also worked closely with the Department for Transport and Transport for the North on an agreed recovery plan as well as an improved offer on overtime working for our drivers.

"FirstGroup is a leading UK rail operator with a strong and diversified portfolio.

"Today’s decision does not alter our belief in the important role of private rail operators in the delivery of vital, environmentally-friendly transport for customers and communities across the UK."

FirstGroup will continue to run Avanti West Coast, Great Western Railway, South Western Railway, Hull Trains and Lumo.

The Operator of Last Resort already runs London North Eastern Railway, Northern and Southeastern services.

Train services run by TransPennine Express will be brought under Government control later this month.

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