Liberal Democrats brand Avanti ‘a disgrace’ and call for West Coast Mainline contract to be removed

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Liberal Democrats in Oldham have hit out at Avanti West Coast (AWC) amid “chaos and delays” affecting Manchester to London services. Oldham’s Liberal Democrat Leader and Greater Manchester Transport spokesperson councillor Howard Sykes MBE has branded Avanti “a disgrace” who are “hampering the economy”. Avanti bosses announced a new timetable aimed at restoring commuter confidence on Thursday (Dec 8) but delays and cancellations have continued, prompting Liberal Democrat councillors to call on the government to strip Avanti of its contract. Councillor Sykes said, "The performance of Avanti has been a disgrace, and frankly, the senior figures have acted far too slowly. They’ve just not delivered for people.“It’s not just damaging the lives of people because they have these appalling delays, cancellations, and poor journeys. It’s now hampering the economy.” “Liberal…
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Rail strikes: Shapps should resign if these strikes ago ahead

Rail strikes: Shapps should resign if these strikes ago ahead

Parliamentary news
Responding to Network Rail and train operators releasing their strike timetables for next week, Liberal Democrat Transport spokesperson Sarah Olney MP said: “Grant Shapps should resign if these strikes ago ahead. The first duty of the Transport Secretary is to keep our country moving, yet an entire summer of rail strikes means he will have failed. “Commuters and holiday goers will struggle to forgive the unions if these strikes go ahead, but Grant Shapps is just as much to blame for sitting on his hands. “We’ve already seen our airports become scenes of chaos and now rail passengers look set to suffer the same fate. It is a shocking track record for Grant Shapps. “He needs to take full and personal responsibility for preventing these strikes. Britain won’t accept a…
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Hitachi trains: Government failing to address impact on passengers and regions

Hitachi trains: Government failing to address impact on passengers and regions

Parliamentary news
Liberal Democrat peer Baroness Jenny Randerson has asked the Government to explain what assessment they have made of the social and economic impacts of disruption to services following the withdrawal of some Hitachi high speed trains from service after defects were discovered. Following the response by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport, Baroness Randerson commented: "The Government has underestimated the impact of Hitachi on long suffering passengers and totally failed to address the impact of this disruption on individual passengers and regions. "There was no answer at all to my suggestion that the Govt should fund a season of promotional cheap fares for the services affected by this disruption. It’s essential at this crucial time as we adjust to fresh ways of working, that everything possible is done to…
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Liberal Democrat Leader says Northern Rail links are short-changed whilst Government finds even more cash for London Crossrail

Borough news
Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group and Leader of the Opposition on Oldham Council, has condemned the Government’s recent decision to give a further £350 million bail out to the London Crossrail project whilst continuing to deny money to complete much-needed rail infrastructure projects in the North of England. Councillor Sykes, who also serves as Oldham’s representative on Transport for Greater Manchester, said: “The cost of the Crossrail project in central London has gone up yet again to £15.4 billion and it is way behind schedule, yet this Government continues to find more and more money to bail it out.” “When it comes to rail services there is a distinct North-South divide,” he added.  “Northern Rail services are a farce - our passengers have to travel…
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Councillor Sykes urges Transport Minister to take action over Northern Rail’s lamentable performance

Borough news
The Leader of the Opposition and of the Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, has roundly condemned Northern Rail for its recent ‘lamentable performance’ following changes to the timetable and has called upon Transport Minister Chris Grayling to ‘get a grip on the situation’ and impose financial penalties on the company for its failure to operate a satisfactory train service. Councillor Sykes, who represents Oldham Council on the Transport for Greater Manchester Committee, said: “Northern Rail’s performance is simply unacceptable. They had plenty of time to prepare for these timetable changes and for the re-training of staff, but they clearly did not care enough about the long-suffering rail passenger to do so.  For Northern, maximising profits rather than customer service is clearly their priority.” He added:…
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