Customers on TransPennine Express (TPE) have been hit by new cancellations, ahead of a ‘temporary amended timetable’ on the rail operator’s West Coast Mainline route.
On Monday (5 September) TPE said it was introducing service cuts from Monday 12 September, which ‘will mean a number of changes for those using TPE’s services on the route between Manchester/Liverpool, Preston, Lancaster and Edinburgh/Glasgow’.
There will be a reduction from 40 to 31 scheduled services on the Anglo-Scottish route, as well as eight ‘partially withdrawn’ services that will cover a shorter section of their original route.
TPE said the changes are being made to provide a more stable and reliable service following recent disruption caused by a range of issues including sustained high levels of sickness and a training backlog as a direct result of COVID.
These factors combined have seen a number of on-the-day or ‘evening before’ cancellations being made but that such cancellations are expected to be significantly reduced under this temporary amended timetable, TPE said.
Service planning and performance director Jerry Farquharson said: 'In normal circumstances, we have enough people to fully operate our scheduled timetable; however the combination of factors has put unprecedented pressure on our ability to operate a consistent service.'
In advance of the reduced timetable, TPE said it was cancelling trains on Thursday (8 September) on routes between Manchester/Liverpool and both Glasgow/Edinburgh and destinations on the East Coast.
At that time, 26 service were cancelled and a further nine shortened, although TPE warned: ‘Further short-notice cancellations and amendments to services are likely throughout the day.’
TPE is owned by First Group, part-owner of Avanti West Coast, which operates trains from London to and from the West Midlands, north west England and Scotland, including areas affected by TPE’s reduced timetable.
Last week, Avanti West Coast managing director Phil Whittingham announced that he is to step down following ongoing cancellations, despite bringing cutting services to improve reliability.
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