Manchester leaders want 'decisive action' over TransPennine Express amid 'deep concern'
03.04.2023 - 10:39
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
"Decisive action" over TransPennine Express (TPE) has been called for by a group of Manchester business leaders as they voiced their "deep concern" over its "ongoing, unacceptable performance and the impact it is having on the region's economy".
In a letter to the Secretary of State for Transport Mark Harper, the 12-strong group said TPE's operations are "not even approaching an adequate service".
TransPennine Express and Avanti West Coast have faced calls for their contracts to be axed due to their performance.
READ MORE: TransPennine Express rail boss 'deliberately' moved home so he could experience commuters' train delays
TPE's contract expires at the end of May and the Department for Transport is examining the details of a recovery plan the company submitted in January after ministers deemed its performance was unacceptable.
The letter comes after the chief executive of property giant Bruntwood sent a similar one to Mr Harper in November 2022 around the impact continued cancellations of Avanti West Coast trains were having on Manchester's economy.
The new letter has been signed by:
In the letter, the business leaders said: "As organisations which represent many thousands of businesses, from micro and SMEs to large corporates, across Greater Manchester we want to express our deep concern at the ongoing, unacceptable performance of TransPennine Express (TPE) and the impact it is having on the region’s economy.
"We know that the rail industry faces difficult challenges, many of which also face businesses across the country, but the level of severe disruption that workforces, customers and visitors continue to face on a daily basis, with thousands of services cancelled at the last minute, is causing huge damage to our