One of Britain's least reliable train operators has been handed a long-term contract renewal despite being ordered to address poor performance on vital lines just months before.
The operator runs trains on the West Coast Main Line between London Euston and Glasgow Central, with branches to Liverpool Lime Street, North Wales, Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh. Mr Harper said: "The routes Avanti West Coast operate provide vital connections, and passengers must feel confident that they can rely on the services to get them where they need to be at the right time.
Mr Madders added: Nine more years of Avanti. The people of the north west deserve better than this poor service. Typical Tories tying the country into a long term contract which is totally unjustified on performance."