The boss of the firm that holds the West Coast Main Line rail franchise is to quit amid an ongoing row over severe cuts to services on the route.
Avanti West Coast said managing director Phil Whittingham (pictured) had decided to step down from his role with effect from 15 September 'in order to pursue other executive leadership opportunities’.
It added that ‘for the immediate future’ Steve Montgomery, managing director of First Rail, part of the consortium that runs Avanti, will provide executive leadership support to the Avanti West Coast team.
Mr Montgomery said: ‘Having led the team through the challenges presented by the pandemic over the last two years and into the recovery period, Phil leaves with the team ready for the challenges in delivering the future service requirements. I would like to thank Phil and wish him well in the future.’
In August Avanti, which runs services from London through the West Midlands and the North West to Glasgow and Edinburgh, introduced a reduced timetable 'until further notice', which it said was ‘to ensure a reliable service is delivered so our customers can travel with greater certainty’.
It said this was ‘due to the current industrial relations climate which has resulted in severe staff shortages in some grades through increased sickness levels, as well as the majority of drivers making themselves unavailable for overtime in a co-ordinated fashion, and at short notice’.
The claim that this represented a form of unofficial industrial action was taken up by then transport secretary Grant Shapps but contested by drivers’ union ASLEF.
The low levels of service – including just one direct train an hour in each direction between Manchester and London – also caused a political row between the Labour mayors of three major cities and resulted in ridicule for Mr Shapps when he wrongly stated on national television that there were four direct trains an hour each way.
On Friday the passenger watchdog Transport Focus revealed that it had met and written to Avanti, adding that ‘some services are still being cancelled at short notice, some passengers are experiencing crowding and there is general confusion over seat reservations and buying tickets’.
As Transport Network has reported, Avanti had faced criticism throughout the year over its failure to run a reliable timetable.
Avanti said Mr Whittingham had transferred to the firm as managing director from Virgin West Coast Trains Limited ‘following a successful 23 years in various roles on the railway’.
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