A train company has faced calls to be stripped of its contractover its “unacceptable” service.
Avanti West Coast, which operates services from Watford Junction to Birmingham, Manchester, and Liverpool, has been placed on a short-term contract renewal by the Government.
It has been given until April 1 next year to improve its services following a reduction of its trains, the Department for Transport (DfT) has said.
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The operator reduced its timetable from seven trains per hour to a minimum of four per hour on August 14.
Transport Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan branded Avanti services “unacceptable” while Labour leader Kier Starmer has called for the company to be stripped of its contact.
FirstGroup, which co-owns Avanti West Coast in a joint venture with Italy’s Trenitalia, said it was “committed” to providing services that meet people’s needs.
FirstGroup CEO Graham Sutherland said: “We are committed to working closely with Government and our partners across the industry to deliver a successful railway that serves the needs of our customers and communities.”
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