Light at the end of the tunnel? MP hopeful of renewed hourly rail service from Cleethorpes to Manchester

 

Cleethorpes MP Martin Vickers is keen for hourly services to resume

CLEETHORPES MP Martin Vickers has expressed hopes that trains between Cleethorpes and Manchester - via Grimsby, Doncaster and Sheffield - will soon be running hourly as they did in the past.

This follows today's announcement that, on May 28, the Government is to take over running the service at least for the time being.

Whitehall has stepped in following months of cancelled or delay services after private operator Transpennine Express seemed to lose its grip.

A Department of Transport press release states: "The decision follows months of significant disruption and regular cancellations across Transpennine Express’s network.

"The issues have resulted in a considerable decline in confidence for passengers who rely on the trains to get to work, visit family and friends and go about their daily lives."

It continues: "The department recognises that a significant number of problems facing Transpennine stem from matters out of its control. 

"These include a backlog of recruitment and training drivers, reforming how the workforce operates and most notably, ASLEF’s decision to withdraw rest day working, thereby preventing drivers from taking on overtime shifts and filling in gaps on services.

"The decision to bring Transpennine Express into the control of the Operator of Last Resort is temporary.

"It is the Government’s full intention that it will return to the private sector.

"In light of this, today’s decision will not instantaneously resolve the challenges being faced on the lines, but will provide an opportunity to reset relationships between the operator, staff, trade unions and passengers."

Transport Secretary Mark Harper comments: "This is not a silver bullet and will not instantaneously fix a number of challenges being faced.

"Under the Operator of Last Resort regime, services will run as normal with no changes to tickets, timetables or planned services.

"The DoT is committed to ensuring a seamless transition for passengers."