TPE performance being monitored

Government will take action against TransPennine Express should performance not improve, according to Transport Minister Baroness Vere.

In a Lords Written Reply on January 22, she told Lord Alton of Liverpool that the late delivery of new trains and subsequent technical issues had affected driver training and crew availability.

She added that the Rail North Partnership, which represents the Department for Transport and Transport for the North, continues “to challenge TPE robustly” and hold it to account against contractual obligations.

Vere added: “Only last week, my Rt Hon Friend the Secretary of State for Transport called in executives from TPE and other industry bodies to reinforce this point. If appropriate, we will take action under the terms set out in the Franchise Agreement.”