Avanti West Coast

Cat Smith Excerpts
Wednesday 7th September 2022

(2 years, 3 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Trudy Harrison Portrait Trudy Harrison
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My hon. Friend makes a brilliant point. I will ensure that the new Secretary of State hears that suggestion and that we work with Avanti to be able to provide those advance tickets, giving passengers that certainty as soon as possible.

Cat Smith Portrait Cat Smith (Lancaster and Fleetwood) (Lab)
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When just 53% of Avanti trains are arriving on time, it comes as no surprise that I have been inundated with complaints. I have lost count of the number of constituents who have been in touch with me really frustrated by their experience of Avanti. They talk of trains being cancelled, trains being delayed, and seats being double booked. Does the Minister think that the £4 million bonus that Avanti got for customer satisfaction and performance would perhaps have been better spent on driver recruitment and training?

Trudy Harrison Portrait Trudy Harrison
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Any performance fees that are being referred to relate to last year’s service, not this one.