Extract from PMQs: Transpennine - Feb 22

David Mundell (Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale) (Con): Mr Speaker, I have previously called out in this House the appalling level of service that my constituents and yours receive from train operator Transpennine  Last month, Transpennine had the largest number of cancellations of any service provider in the UK, but it turns out that even that figure was fiddled, because Transpennine had cancelled over 1,000 trains before 10.30 the night before so that they would not show up in the statistics. Does the Prime Minister agree that this practice is totally unacceptable, as is TransPennine’s level of service?

The Prime Minister: I agree with my right hon. Friend: the current service levels are unacceptable. The Rail North partnership, which is managing the contract, is working with the company on an improvement plan. The Rail Minister, my hon. Friend the Member for Bexhill and Battle (Huw Merriman), is having weekly meetings with the Rail North partnership to monitor its progress, and although the Transpennine contract expires in May and we are working on a new contract, if Ministers conclude that the operator cannot be turned around, other decisions may have to be made.