Louise Haigh commenting on reports that Avanti West Coast's contract will be renewed

Louise Haigh MP, Labour's Shadow Transport Secretary, commenting on reports that Avanti West Coast's contract will be renewed, said:

"This is a reward for abject failure, and a slap in the face for passengers.

"This failing operator has caused travel misery,  and the Government's answer is to hand over millions more in taxpayers' cash.

"The Transport Secretary's desperation to blame workers has left him defending the indefensible - and it's passengers and the taxpayer who are paying the price.

"If the government had any interest in doing their job, they would claw-back taxpayers' money for services that haven’t run, strip the operator of the contract and put in place an urgent plan to restore the timetable."

Ends

Notes to editors

The Times: Avanti’s rail contract set to be renewed despite continued timetable chaos https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/0b4097d8-2bb1-11ed-b39f-ae396665d39a?shareToken=9f0f4ee83162e7342f8f68d058980be5