CHESTER MP Samantha Dixon has called on the transport secretary and Avanti West Coast to stop the “hokey cokey” of train services.
Following a recent announcement that ‘targeted services’ will be cut during the summer, Samantha Dixon has written to the Minister of State for Rail and Avanti West Coast to express her dismay at continued cancellations and the effect this will have on business and tourism in Chester and across the border in North Wales.
The cuts, which will affect four trains a day on the North Wales route from July 24 to September 8, coincides with the region’s peak tourism season.
In her letter Ms Dixon said:
“It is very disappointing that services are being cut back over summer and it is evident that despite assurances to the contrary Avanti West Coast still don’t have enough drivers.
“Avanti are playing the “hokey cokey” with us, putting improvements on the table one week and then withdrawing them the next.
“Despite any welcome improvements to services in the last few months, they remain nowhere near providing the pre-covid level of services.”
The Chester politician said that even in her short time being an MP, it feels like Chester and North Wales are “always” the target of poor rail services.
“Forgotten when improvements are being made and the first in line when it comes to cuts,” she added.
Speaking of the affects this will have on business, Ms Dixon said:
“Summer is a key time for businesses in Chester and the surrounding area. It’s a time when Chester hopes to see an increase in tourism and leisure visits. This will now be hindered by the service cuts.
“The cuts will cause substantial problems. I am informed that Transport for Wales services are not designed or timetabled to ‘substitute’ for the lack of Avanti’s express services.
“Rail users will be deterred from using services. This has serious consequences for Chester’s tourism and business.”
Similarly, Alyn and Deeside MP Mark Tami has highlighted the detrimental effects of cuts on business, commuters and tourism on the other side of the border.
“Avanti West Coast promise the world and deliver nothing,” he said.
“This announcement is the latest in a long line of disappointments, particularly to be seeing yet more rail replacements between Chester and Wrexham. The people of North East Wales deserve much better, and it’s time for Avanti to step up, or hand the contract to someone who can deliver.”
An Avanti West Coast spokesperson said: “From 24 July to 8 September, we have removed a small number of services from our timetable, to enable us to run a more reliable service for our customers by minimising the risk of unplanned, short-notice cancellations. This is a temporary measure and we’re sorry for any inconvenience to our customers.“
The rail company went on to say that on weekdays, on the North Wales route, the changes affect two Southbound and two Northbound services. In the northbound direction, one of these services is a part-cancellation, with a connecting service available from London.
For the two affected Wrexham services there will be rail replacement transport between Chester and Wrexham, to reduce the impact to journey opportunities and mitigate customer impact.