CONCERN over a rail operator’s ‘dire’ service have been raised by Rugby’s MP.
John Slinger and Transport Secretary Louise Haigh have written to CrossCountry setting out their concerns about its level of service.
Train cancellations under CrossCountry have increased over the past year, it is operating a reduced timetable, and the company’s own forecasts indicate it expects to breach its contractual targets for cancellations in the coming months.
Mr Slinger has written to CrossCountry to demand assurances on the steps being taken to mitigate the impact of the timetable reduction and deliver more reliable services in future.
He said: “For too long CrossCountry have let down passengers.
“Reliable train services are crucial to ensuring people have access to work, education and leisure opportunities across the region.
“I have requested regular updates on the progress of CrossCountry’s remedial plan and will continue to work with the operator, the Department for Transport and other key stakeholders to ensure passengers get the service they deserve.”
In her letter, Louise Haigh set out her concerns about the performance of CrossCountry trains and the steps she expects to be taken.
These include short-term mitigations during the reduced timetable period, such as increased capacity on the services which will operate, and that the operator take steps to reduce the backlog of driver training.
Louise Haigh said CrossCountry’s service was not at the standard the government expected or passengers deserved.
She added: “This is the mess we’ve inherited, where our railways are understaffed and lurching from one crisis to the next.
“We insisted CrossCountry put on more services than their original plan, but the reduced timetable is certainly not satisfactory.
“CrossCountry is persistently one of the worst performing operators, with record delays, cancellations and consistent overcrowding. That is why I have also instigated a remedial plan to improve services in the long run.
“There can be no excuse for this sort of dire service.”
