CUMBRIAN MP BLASTS AVANTI CONTRACT EXTENSION

This morning, Cumbrian MP Tim Farron has slammed the Department for Transport's decision to extend Avanti's contract for the West Coast Mainline by another 6 months.

It follows an extended period of failures by Avanti in running the service. Analysis of the Office of Road and Rail data has resulted in the company being ranked the lowest for reliability with Avanti cancelling the equivalent of one in four services in recent weeks. Their cancellation score was put at 18.9% - one of the highest recorded in history for any operator.

The decision follows an incident last Summer where due to Avanti mismanagement, passengers were left stranded and locked in Oxenholme train station at midnight.

Speaking today, Tim said: "Whether it's letting water companies keep their bumper profits and bonuses whilst pumping sewage in our lakes and rivers, or extending Avanti's contract despite dire performance, this is a Conservative Government who seem hellbent on rewarding failure

"This decision by the Conservative Government proves just how out of touch they really are.

"They simply have no idea the difficulties that passengers face every day whilst trying to navigate the failures of Avanti. Passengers have been forced to accept an outrageous hike in ticket prices and are getting nothing in return.

"The Conservative Government cannot justify this extension when every other train is cancelled, the fares are through the roof, and the lives of passengers are left disrupted every single day.

"This should be the final stop for Avanti's contract."