Commons speaker tells West Midlands rail operator Avanti West Coast: "Your services are appalling"

MPs heard one Manchester business owner often travels to London the night before a meeting as he "can't rely" on Avanti.

The operator, which runs trains from the West Midlands to Glasgow in the north and London to the south. It was recently forced to apologise for the number of cancelled trains over the Christmas period, saying a combination of strikes, sickness and bad weather had all played a role. Only 44 per cent of trains arrived on time over the festive period.

Executives at the operator were also criticised recently for boasting about the "free money" it received from the taxpayer.

The performance of Avanti West Coast was subject of a debate in the Commons.

Rail minister Huw Merriman said Avanti's performance had "improved dramatically" when the Government last year decided to renew its operating contract for up to nine years.

In response to Labour MP Jeff Smith (Manchester Withington) asking if the Government regretted the "premature decision", Mr Merriman also told the Commons: "Avanti are in the process of hiring 70 drivers per year.

"I have spoken to Avanti about matters that were raised in the chamber today and also about their recent service, we know they need to do better, we are holding them to account to ensure that they do."

Shadow transport secretary Louise Haigh earlier said: "What does the Secretary of State think it says about the performance standards in the contracts he signed with failing operators that senior executives at Avanti, whose cancellations now run at 17 per cent, could boast about the free money that's too good to be true from the taxpayer?"

Transport Secretary Mark Harper replied: "Avanti haven't got any money under the performance regime because they haven't delivered appropriate enough quality, demonstrating we only pay for good performance.

"On the specific issue she raises, I and the rail minister have raised that with Avanti, senior executives at First have agreed with us that those comments were appalling and they are taking steps to deal with that issue within the company."

Ms Haigh countered: "They were disgraceful from Avanti, but the problem goes to the contracts that he is signing with such failing operators."

Avanti last month apologised for the "isolated" incident.

Elsewhere at transport questions, shadow transport minister Stephen Morgan said a leaked document shows the decision to cut parts of HS2 will reduce capacity on the West Coast Main Line.

In October last year, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak cancelled the plan to extend HS2 between the West Midlands and Manchester amid spiralling costs.

Mr Morgan said: "When the Prime Minister made the decision to scrap HS2, his department said the plan would 'lead to increased capacity on the West Coast Main Line'. But, minister, that's not correct, is it?

"I have a leaked document from his own officials that proves it. In it, they admit that this decision will mean fewer seats than today, with Glasgow and Manchester badly hit ... does he accept he will be the high-speed rail minister who left behind slower trains and fewer seats?"

Mr Merriman said: "We don't comment on documents that may or may not have been leaked ... the HS2 train design was always to have a capacity for 500 seats.

"If those trains are doubled up to 400 metres, then, of course, that's 1,000 seats. The Network North document committed half a billion pounds to look at capacity and how further capacity can be unlocked."

He said the HS2 line "being built to Birmingham" will "reduce the journey times to Birmingham" as well as to Manchester and Liverpool.