Poor train services in northern England due to ‘toxic combination’ of problems

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Problems with rail services in northern England are being caused by a “toxic combination” of issues, MPs have been told. “The staff-management relationships don’t seem to be good and need resetting in some way.” He went on: “With TransPennine, I think the industrial relations issues have been very corrosive and have clearly undermined their ability to provide a reliable service.” Avanti West Coast cut its schedules in August to limit short-notice cancellations. “There has been a total let-down with unreliable services, not being able to get tickets, not knowing whether services are going to run, and also getting that information out.” Transport Secretary Mark Harper claimed it is “up to the unions to decide” if they want train services in northern England to improve. In a written statement to Parliament, the Cabinet minister explained that he has given TransPennine Express and Northern “the scope they need to put a meaningful and generous” offer on rest-day working to drivers’ union Aslef He wrote: “Aslef need to enter negotiations and put any new deal to its members and, if accepted, do all it can to make that deal work.