Lisa Smart calls for Avanti contract to be withdrawn

The Conservative Government has extended their contract for another six months, which simply means “another six months of pain for commuters across Stockport and Hazel Grove,” Liberal Democrats Parliamentary Candidate Lisa Smart commented.

Commuters have been repeatedly hit by cancellations and late running. Analysis of the Office of Road and Rail data has resulted in the company being ranked the lowest for reliability with Avanti cancelling the equivalent of one in four services in recent weeks. Their cancellation score was put at 18.9% - one of the highest recorded in history for any operator.  

Lisa said: “Why are people in Stockport being forced to fork out for huge increases in fares while receiving such a poor service?

“I can’t believe that any of the Conservative politicians who have agreed this extension have to put up with the appalling service that there is on the West Coast Mainline. If they did, I am certain that this extension would not have been agreed.”

The decision follows further dithering over HS2, with delays confirmed for the northern end of the rail line, as well as the Conservative Government steadfastly refusing to build a new east–west rail line as part of Northern Powerhouse rail, as recommended by Northern Rail.

Lisa continued: “This Conservative Government has shown it is simply incapable. They can’t deliver a train service for today, and they can’t deliver a railway network for tomorrow. They really are stuck in the past.”