Louise Haigh comments on Avanti West Coast contract extension

Monday, 20 March 2023 10:07

Louise Haigh MP, Labour’s Shadow Transport Secretary, commenting on news the government has handed train operator Avanti West Coast a further contract extension, said: “Avanti has literally broken records over the last six months for delays and cancellations, and the Conservatives’ answer is to reward failure with millions more in taxpayer cash. “If this is what success looks like to ministers, it shows that under the Conservatives our broken railways are here to...Request free trial

Louise Haigh MP, Labour’s Shadow Transport Secretary, commenting on news the government has handed train operator Avanti West Coast a further contract extension, said:

“Avanti has literally broken records over the last six months for delays and cancellations, and the Conservatives’ answer is to reward failure with millions more in taxpayer cash.

“If this is what success looks like to ministers, it shows that under the Conservatives our broken railways are here to stay.

“The next Labour government will put passengers back at the heart of our railways, and build the infrastructure fit for the century ahead unlocking jobs and growth."

Ends

Notes:

During the ‘improvement plan’ Avanti had the highest proportion of trains more than 15 minutes late on record. The figure of 24.6% of trains late was the second highest of any operator, at any time, on record:

https://dataportal.orr.gov.uk/statistics/performance/passenger-rail-performance/table-3138-train-punctuality-at-recorded-station-stops-by-operator-periodic/

Operator ¹	Financial period	15 minutes+
	2022-23 Period 07	9.6 %
	2022-23 Period 08	14.5 %
	2022-23 Period 09	10.7 %
	2022-23 Period 10	24.6 %
	2022-23 Period 11	17.7 %

During the ‘improvement plan’ the number of Avanti services on-time fell:

Period 07-11 covers the period in the improvement plan https://dataportal.orr.gov.uk/statistics/performance/passenger-rail-performance/table-3138-train-punctuality-at-recorded-station-stops-by-operator-periodic/

Operator ¹	Financial period	On Time ² (within 59 seconds)
Avanti West Coast	2014-15 Period 01	54.3 %
	2022-23 Period 01	47.6 %
	2022-23 Period 02	48.6 %
	2022-23 Period 03	44.9 %
	2022-23 Period 04	36.4 %
	2022-23 Period 05	34.3 %
	2022-23 Period 06	44.1 %
	2022-23 Period 07	40.9 %
	2022-23 Period 08	33.3 %
	2022-23 Period 09	32.0 %
	2022-23 Period 10	32.1 %

	2022-23 Period 11	35.2 %

During the ‘improvement plan’ Avanti saw the highest cancellation figure on record, and cancellations were as high as in the first six-months of the year:

Period 7-12 covers mid-September 2022 through to March 2023.https://dataportal.orr.gov.uk/statistics/performance/passenger-rail-performance/table-3124-trains-planned-and-cancellations-by-operator-and-cause-periodic/

National / Operator ¹	Financial period	Trains planned ²	Trains part cancelled	Trains full cancelled	Cancellations score (number)	Cancellations score %
						Cancellations score %
						Periodic	Periodic MAA
	2022-23 Period 01	6,453	121	327	388	6.0%	4.3%
	2022-23 Period 02	6,324	142	344	415	6.6%	4.5%
	2022-23 Period 03	5,949	147	494	568	9.5%	5.1%
	2022-23 Period 04	6,432	288	899	1,043	16.2%	6.0%
	2022-23 Period 05	5,230	236	663	781	14.9%	6.9%
	2022-23 Period 06	4,791	122	264	325	6.8%	7.3%
	2022-23 Period 07	4,528	186	241	334	7.4%	7.7%
	2022-23 Period 08	4,535	165	273	356	7.8%	8.0%
	2022-23 Period 09	4,766	203	339	441	9.2%	8.4%
	2022-23 Period 10	4,096	253	648	775	18.9%	8.8%
	2022-23 Period 11	6,117	211	536	642	10.5%	9.4%
	2022-23 Period 12	7,015	168	282	366	5.2%	9.3%