City leaders slam major train operator for slashing services to The North

CITY leaders have blasted a rail operator’s decision to slash its timetable to the North West as a “national outrage” that must be reversed.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan and Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham called Avanti West Coast’s move “completely unacceptable”.

PA

London Mayor Sadiq Khan and Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham called Avanti West Coast’s move ‘completely unacceptable’[/caption]

The Sun told yesterday how AWC will run as few as four trains an hour instead of seven on the West Coast Main Line from Sunday — with just one from London Euston to Manchester.

The firm blames staff shortages and is also suspending ticket sales.

Mr Khan, Mr Burnham and Manchester city council boss Bev Craig have written to Transport Secretary Grant Shapps.

It read: “This is completely unacceptable.”

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They want him to set a deadline for Avanti to fix the issue — or strip the firm of its contract.

The letter added: “Drivers are completely entitled to choose not to work on their rest days.

“It also seeks to shift blame off Avanti management for their failure to provide appropriate mitigations for an entirely foreseeable situation.”