Avanti West Coast reports 'huge increase in capacity' and 93 trains a day 'north and south from Manchester'
Under-fire Avanti West Coast has reported a 'huge increase in capacity', with 93 trains per day now said to be leaving north and south from Manchester. Bosses have reported a 'vastly reduced' level of cancellations recently, although acknowledging some trains were still being taken out of service.
The company said it would use the national timetable changes to relaunch a 'stable and deliverable' three trains an hour service that wasn't reliant on rest day working or overtime, saying it now had more drivers 'in the business than ever before'. Nick Smith, Regional Growth Manager at the West Coast Partnership, addressed councillors on the Metrolink and rail sub-committee of the Greater Manchester Transport Committee.
He said the new timetable had been a 'challenge' mainly due to ongoing industrial action by unions, the Christmas period and 'weather incidents'. "This is the first week that we can start to really make a judgement on how well we are doing," he said. "The levels of cancellations have been vastly reduced over the last couple of days.
Mr Smith went on to be quizzed over staff morale, with one councillor saying it was at 'rock bottom' and asking what was being done about it. Mr Smith said work was happening and he would bring details to a later meeting.
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