July 8, 2024, 9:26 p.m
New MPs hit out at ‘messy’ rail services.
Image: Paul Foster/Kirith Entwistle/Social Media
Several newly elected MPs have slammed train services as “wrecked” after their journeys to London were disrupted.
Politicians criticized the reliability of train connections when traveling to the Chamber of Deputies.
It comes before Parliament sits for the first time since the general election on Tuesday.
Paul Foster, MP for South Ribble, wrote on Monday: “First day on the road to Parliament and guess what… @AvantiWestCoast go and cancel my train just as I get to Preston station.
“To make matters worse, the train is actually pulling into the station! A total wreck.”
He posted an image of a departure board showing the cancellation of the 6am train to London Euston.
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# First day on the way to Parliament and guess what……@AvantiWestCoast Go and cancel my train as soon as I get to Preston station. To top it off, the train actually pulls into the station! Total mess. pic.twitter.com/TixsrgsqeN
— Paul Foster MP (@SRLabourLeader) July 8, 2024
Henry Tufnell, MP for Central and South Pembrokeshire, who traveled to London on Sunday, wrote: “Heading to London and excited to start work as MP for Central and South Pembrokeshire.
“Unfortunately the route includes no direct trains from #Pembrokeshire and a delayed @GWRHelp train via Gloucester. We have a lot of work to do…”
Meanwhile, Claire Hughes, MP for Bangor Aberconwy, said: “In news that will shock absolutely no one, my @AvantiWestCoast train to London for my first day at Westminster has been cancelled.”
Andrew Ranger, who is Labor MP for Wrexham, replied: “That’ll be my train too! Well, we’ve got one more thing to add to the list of things to deal with. #avantifail.”
During the election campaign, Transport Secretary Louise Haigh said that if Labor won, the party would urgently consider stripping Avanti of its West Coast contract due to its “deplorable service” on the West Coast Main Line.
It has pledged to transfer all train services on UK railways to public ownership.
Calder Valley MP Josh Fenton-Glynn suffered the disruption while traveling with Northern, which is already being inspected by the Department for Transport.
He posted a picture of himself at Hebden Bridge station at 9.24am on Monday with the caption: ‘On my way to London! I am so excited to start the journey to be a voice in Westminster for the communities I love in the Calder Valley. ”
In a follow-up post eight minutes later, he added: “In news that will shock absolutely no one, my @northernassist train is delayed.”
Kirith Entwistle, who represents Bolton North East, posted a picture of the town’s station with the caption: ‘Day 1 and my Manchester to London train is cancelled.
Craig Harrop, regional director for the North in the North West, said: “We apologize to all customers who were affected by the service cancellations yesterday and this morning.
“Our operational colleagues are working hard to keep journey planners up to date.
“We are very proactive in managing increased staff sickness and on Sundays, when crews voluntarily work extra hours, we have seen a reduction in the occupancy of train crews on parts of the network.
“Furthermore, the ongoing industrial relations issues have their own impact. We are working hard with our colleagues and other train operators to improve service reliability.”
A spokesman for Avanti West Coast said the operator apologized for any inconvenience caused to customers following the cancellation of some train services.