Grayling: Improving Northern rail 'number one priority' - CILT(UK)
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Grayling: Improving Northern rail 'number one priority'

24 May 2018/Categories: CILT, Industry News, Active Travel & Travel Planning, Rail, Transport Planning



(Image source: Northern)

Improving Northern's train services are the Department for Transport's "number one performance priority", the government has said.

It comes amid widespread criticism of the company over cancellations, delays and the implementation of a new timetable earlier this week.

The department is also investigating whether Northern has breached its franchise agreement to run trains

The train operator has been contacted for a comment.

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said plans to improve the company's performance had been submitted and he will be speaking to managers to discuss future steps.

"Improving the service for Northern customers is the number one performance priority for my department and we will work with the industry to keep disruption at a minimum," he said.

Measures in the plan include:

• Improving driver rostering to get more trains running now
• Increasing driver training on new routes to get more services on line as quickly as possible
• Additional contingency drivers and management presence at key locations in Manchester
• Putting extra peak services in the timetable along the Bolton corridor, including between Buckshaw and Manchester Victoria, and Preston and Manchester Oxford Road

Transport minister Jo Johnson said his department was assessing whether Northern's service on the Lakes line had breached its franchise agreement.

The company, which faces two days of strike action by staff later this week, has also apologised over the introduction of a new timetable on Sunday.

People and strategy director Richard Allen told BBC North West Tonight: "I'd like to say sorry and apologise to customers who've had to suffer cancellation and delays."

Many of the problems had been caused by delays in electrification work being carried out by Network Rail, he said.

"We are going to work to fix as many issues as we can over the next days and weeks," Mr Allen added.

Source: BBC

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