The train operator Transpennine Express is on track on to cancel more than 23,000 services this year should reliability remain at its current levels, according to a new study by West Yorkshire Combined Authority.
The annual conference of Transport for the North was held this morning in Newcastle, where West Yorkshire Mayor Tracey Brabin urged the government to ‘get a grip’.
The company runs trains across Northern England and Scotland, and passengers have suffered a number of delays and cancellations due to strikes, as drivers are no longer wanting to work paid overtime shifts.
The office of Rail and Road data showed that Transpennine Express cancelled 1,781 services over the last four weeks from February 4.
According to the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, there will be a total of 23,153 services cancelled by the First Group company if this rate of cancellation continues.
Mayor Brabin said: “This is shocking, and the government must hear our calls, get a grip and bring this situation under control.
“Without action people will lose jobs, our youngsters will miss vital opportunities and the northern economy will go off the rails.”
A spokesperson for Transpennine Express said: “the company worked hard with the Department for Transport to improve the offer on overtime working for our drivers.
“it is deeply disappointing this offer was rejected, we hope the union will reconsider and put the offer to its members.
“We know the service levels over the past year have not been good enough and we are pulling out all the stops to make things better.”
