Government accused of ‘rewarding failure’ after extending Avanti contract
Back of an Avanti West Coast train
A MOVE by Tory ministers to hand crisis-hit Avanti West Coast another contract extension is “reward for failure,” rail unions charged today.
The private operator, owned by FirstGroup and Italian state-run firm Trenitalia, introduced a new timetable in December 2022 after massive staff shortages saw it cancel nearly a quarter of all services last summer.
Despite the poor record, the operator, which runs trains on the West Coast Main Line between London Euston and Glasgow Central, is set to keep the contract for a further six months from the end of March until October 15.
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