Mayor Andy Burnham, in his capacity as Chair of the Rail North Committee, has written to the new Secretary of State for Transport, offering statutory advice concerning the ongoing poor performance of Avanti West Coast and Network Rail infrastructure. The letter follows the recent Rail North Committee meeting (Monday 15 July 2024), where members resolved to maintain their position on Avanti West Coast.
Mayor Burnham’s letter highlights significant issues and persistent challenges faced by passengers using the Avanti West Coast services. Following a motion which was passed at a Transport for the North Board meeting in March 2024, the letter calls for the termination of the Avanti West Coast rail franchise due to inadequate performance and service delivery, which has failed to meet the needs and expectations of the public.
The TfN Board heard on 21 March 2024 that Avanti’s median Public Performance Measure (PPM) score between 6 January and 24 February 2024 was 68.6%. Avanti’s average PPM score for the 12 weeks from 1 April 2024 was 66.5% with one period reaching 69.1%. While this does not indicate any improvement on the previous position, Avanti has highlighted a reduction in the proportion of cancellations caused by the operator on itself by 45%, with Network Rail responsible for 64% of delays reflecting an increase in infrastructure failures.
The Rail North Committee are aware that the Secretary of State for Transport is closely monitoring the situation, and the Board will be discussing any further developments at the next meeting.
You can read the full letter here.