TRAIN operator Avanti West Coast has been handed a short-term contract extension by the Department for Transport (DfT), the Firstgroup-owned company said.

The operator has struggled with reliability and punctuality during parts of the past year.

Its contract was due to expire at the end of March but has been extended until 15 October.

Firstgroup chief executive Graham Sutherland said: "We are working closely with government and our partners across the industry to deliver a successful railway for our customers and communities.

"Performance at Avanti is steadily improving and, since the introduction of the new timetable in mid-December, the number of services has increased by more than 40 per cent compared to last summer, with more seats and better frequencies.

"[This week's] agreement allows our team to continue their focus on delivering their robust plans to continue enhancing services for our customers, including further progress on our train upgrade and refurbishment programme." Transport secretary Mark Harper said a plan produced by Avanti West Coast after the DfT handed the operator a six-month contract renewal in October 2022 "is working".

He said: "The routes

Avanti West Coast run are absolutely vital, and I fully understand the frustrations passengers felt at the completely unacceptable services seen last autumn. "Following our intervention, rail minister Huw Merriman and I have worked closely with local leaders to put a robust plan in place, which I'm glad to see is working."

PA

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