Transport for the North Unites Against Avanti West Coast's Contract

RMT today welcomed the news that the Board of Transport for the North voted unanimously to write to the Secretary of State calling on him to terminate Avanti West Coast’s contract and bring it into public ownership under the Operator of Last Resort.

With Avanti’s performance consistently poor and deteriorating since December, Transport for the North, which brings together Northern Metro Mayors and council leaders, called for Transport Secretary Mark Harper to put an end to First Group’s tenure on the West Coast mainline.
 
RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch said: “We welcome Transport for the North’s decision. This would be the right move for the North, for the country as a whole and for the workforce at Avanti. The government must now act.”
 
Transport for the North voted on a proposal “For the Board to submit Statutory Advice to the Secretary of State for Transport that Avanti West Coast’s contract should be terminated at the earliest possible opportunity (with the Operator of Last Resort taking on responsibility in the short term for the delivery of long-distance services on the West Coast Main Line).”