The government has expressed serious concerns about the performance of the CrossCountry rail operator, with the transport secretary issuing a warning that action will be taken if improvements are not made. In a letter to the company’s interim directors, Louise Haigh reluctantly approved a request to reduce services temporarily. This decision was made in response to a backlog of driver training and recent industrial action, which has impacted the quality of service provided by CrossCountry.
Acknowledging the poor service quality, CrossCountry has issued an apology for the inconvenience caused by the new timetable, stating that it is necessary to ensure a more reliable service in the future. The reduced timetable is set to run for three months, from August 10 to November 9, with the aim of addressing the training issues faced by the company.
Despite the company’s efforts, the transport secretary criticized CrossCountry for the increase in train cancellations over the past year and the failure to meet contractual targets. Ms. Haigh emphasized that the temporary timetable was only accepted to provide passengers with more certainty regarding available services, and that it is not a satisfactory long-term solution.
As part of a remedial plan, CrossCountry has been tasked with improving its services and ensuring that it does not profit from running fewer trains. Failure to deliver on this plan could result in further action being taken by the government. The company has acknowledged that its service has fallen below expected standards, leading to frequent on-the-day cancellations and a lack of reliability.
Despite the inconvenience caused by the temporary timetable, CrossCountry has reassured passengers that 97% of normal daily seats will still be available. The company plans to have more fully-trained drivers by the end of the timetable period, which will improve service quality and reliability across the network. The CrossCountry network connects major cities in England and Scotland, providing essential transport services to passengers.
The Labour government has expressed its commitment to renationalizing passenger rail services as current private contracts expire. The Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill was introduced shortly after the government took office, signaling its intention to take greater control over the country’s rail services. CrossCountry’s contract, which was agreed upon by the previous Conservative government, is set to expire in October 2031.
Overall, the concerns raised by the government highlight the importance of maintaining high standards of service in the rail industry. CrossCountry’s efforts to address training issues and improve service quality will be closely monitored, with the expectation that passengers will experience a more reliable and efficient service in the future.