Avanti West Coast: Union hits out at Christmas rail service cuts

Avanti West Coast runs trains on the West Coast Main Line

Rail union Aslef has criticised a reduction in services over Christmas by operator Avanti West Coast.

The company said it was cutting West Coast Main Line services from 9-31 December "to enable us to run a more reliable service for our customers".

The union said the company had given a "nonsense" explanation about pressures created by staff taking annual leave and called Avanti "irresponsible".

An Avanti spokesman declined to comment on any issues with annual leave.

The company would only say the reduced services from 9-31 December would "minimise unplanned, short-notice cancellations".

"This is a temporary measure and we're sorry for any inconvenience," he said.

Aslef general secretary Mick Whelan described the move as "shameful" and a disappointment.

'Let down'

The union said the cuts to services were just the latest in a "long line of disappointments felt by passengers who travel with a company whose name has become a byword for poor service".

Mr Whelan added: "Avanti West Coast has consistently let down rail staff and the great British public."

He said cutting services over the festive period is a "shameful gift to give passengers this Christmas".

He said the union had warned for some time that the company had been "trying to run its service on the West Coast Main Line on the cheap."

Mr Whelan also said: "Not employing enough drivers to deliver the services it has promised passengers - and the government - it will run has left crucial services understaffed and undervalued."

The company said tickets had not been sold for the cancelled services and it had reviewed the Christmas period in detail day by day, with targeted amendments "to mitigate the overall impact".

It said it had removed peak restrictions from 22 December to 7 January to spread demand and allow customers to travel flexibly.