Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Avanti

Thursday 8 June 2023 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Avanti began operating in December 2019 and transitioned to an emergency measures agreement due to the COVID-19 pandemic within 16 weeks.
  • Normal service was disrupted in Lichfield when a passenger crossed the line of sight in front of the train.
  • The Minister is looking at steps to return operations to the private sector, which is the preferred model.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Michael Fabricant Con
Transport
Context

Avanti's rail timetable has faced issues since its launch, prompting scrutiny over its performance and impact on services.

Question

What comparative assessment has been made of the service delivered by Avanti's rail timetable now compared to when it launched?

Answer from Huw Merriman

Avanti began operating in December 2019 and within 16 weeks had transitioned on to an emergency measures agreement due to the covid-19 pandemic. Since then, the service provision has adjusted to align with demand and balance taxpayer and passenger needs. Recent performance improvements show Avanti-caused cancellations down from 13.2% in January 2023 to 1.4% for April.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific comparative analysis requested was not provided, instead focusing on recent performance improvements without comparing them to the launch period.

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Q2 Michael Fabricant Con
Transport
Context

Issues with Avanti's services have led to concerns about the quality of transport in Lichfield and its surrounding areas.

Question

I thank my hon. Friend for his answer —[Interruption.] What is being done to address the specific issue affecting my constituents' ability to travel from Lichfield?

Answer from Huw Merriman

Normal service resumed after a passenger crossed the line of sight in front of my hon. Friend. I will look at anything that deprives my hon. Friend and his constituents of their ability to travel from Lichfield. I am meeting the managing director of Avanti today, and I will raise this point and write back to him.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific issue was not addressed directly; instead, a vague commitment was made without specifics on actions or timelines.

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Q3 Patrick Grady SNP
Transport
Context

Several train operators have been nationalised recently, raising questions about the effectiveness and future direction of such a model.

Question

With ScotRail, Caledonian Sleeper, LNER, and TransPennine Express all having been nationalised, what steps is the Minister taking to monitor their impact and whether this model should be extended to other franchises?

Answer from Huw Merriman

Steps are being taken to look at putting operations back to the private sector, which is our preferred model. On TransPennine trains, a plan is being developed that should be delivered by next month. The current situation involves 50% of drivers not being trained up, indicating a need for more co-operation with unions to train drivers.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific monitoring steps and plans for future nationalisations were not detailed; instead, the focus was on stabilizing operations in TransPennine Express.

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