I welcome the government stepping in to strip this company of its franchise.
My postbag is full of exasperated passengers in Leyland and Preston who are at their wits’ end over the appalling service they must endure to go about their daily business of work or attending appointments.
The Transport Secretary was right to point out this action is not a silver bullet that will fix all the challenges the line faces but it is recognition the company has not succeeded and another way forward is needed.
The focus now needs to be on tackling the backlog of driver training caused by the pandemic and working with the train drivers' union Aslef to work out an overtime agreement. These measures should help to stop the cancellations that have plagued commuters for too long.
Covid caused serious disruption for train operators due to a fall in passenger numbers but that can be no excuse for the bad service TransPennine has delivered now we are in 2023.
