Statement
Statement

With Government delays in creating a single controlling mind, Great British Railways, we are seeing rail services descend into chaos. This week Transpennine Express have been back in the spotlight as they cannot deliver a reliable rail service.

The operator has announced 44 cancellations today and it is unknown if other trains will run. Earlier this month Rachael Maskell was booked onto a Grand Central train that didn’t even exist.

Rail failure has a massive impact on passengers, as well as businesses and the local economy, young people getting to college or staff getting to work on time. If people cannot get to work this can impact on vital services such as the NHS. At the moment passengers simply do not know when or if their train will run. When passengers do get to travel, they are often sardined into overloaded coaches having to endure an uncomfortable journey.

Labour has made it clear that it will end the 29-year privatisation experiment and build a public transport system fit for the 21st Century.

Rachael Maskell MP said:

“With rail chaos, each and every day, passengers do not know if they are coming or going. Rail journeys are often essential and people should be able to plan their day, knowing that their train will turn up on time.  Sadly many passengers are walking with their feet and are now opting for the car.

“We were promised a new controlling mind for the railways, Great British Railways, centring the future of the rail industry, but Government have dithered and delayed over this, and it is still unclear exactly how they are going to take things forward. We are back to transport in the North being off the Government’s agenda.

“I am requesting an urgent meeting with Transpennine Express to understand why it cannot run an efficient and reliable service. Meanwhile, the Government must settle the outstanding rail dispute and ensure that those working on the railways, dedicated guards, station staff, cleaners and ticket office staff do not see their contracts torn up, their health and safety put at risk or their pay fall behind. It is high time the Government got a grip.”

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