Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they have taken since 4 July to ensure that a reliable train service is maintained between London Euston and Holyhead.

The performance of Avanti West Coast (AWC) services between London and Holyhead has not been good enough, with too many cancellations and delays. Poor Network Rail infrastructure reliability has also contributed to the disruption felt by passengers.

The former Secretary of State met with AWC and Network Rail in July to challenge them on poor performance and demand immediate action to deliver urgent improvements.

As part of its recovery plan, AWC will introduce 25 new weekly services on its Chester and North Wales route from 15 December 2024. In addition, AWC expects to complete work to replace its diesel trains with a brand-new fleet of modern bi-mode Hitachi trains on the North Wales Mainline by May 2025, offering more space and a quieter journey for passengers.