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Agenda item

Agenda item

Rail North Partnership Operational Update

Minutes:

5.1             Members received the report from the Director of the Rail North Partnership who highlighted the general levels of performance for the operators across the North.  He described current performance levels as “solid” and that this autumn has been the best experienced in a while.

 

5.2          Mr. Darren Higgins updated Members on the progress of Transpennine Express and provided an update on the recovery.   He explained that at the end of period 9 that performance was at 72% of the pre-Covid benchmark and that they have been performing ahead of the UK Rail and long distance sector benchmarks over recent months.  He highlighted the continued strong performance in the leisure market which at that point was performing at 89% of pre-Covid levels.  The growth in performance of the commuter market is slower than the leisure market. 

 

5.3          Mr. Mark Powles highlighted Northern’s strong summer where they outperformed their peer group and large parts of the industry by 10%.  However, he highlighted that the recovery is a leisure led one and that the leisure market has remained strong throughout the Autumn. He explained the return to work market has been sluggish and the season ticket market is around 35-38% but the advance purchase market has been stronger. 

 

From operational point of view he highlighted issues with staff availability and that decisions are being made as issues emerge.  Weekend operating was also highlighted as a problematic issue.

5.4          Members raised a number of issues relating to train issues in their constituent areas.

 

5.5          Cllr Mackenzie highlighted the union action being taken by TPE employees which led to disruption to some services and enquired as to the current position.

Mr. Higgins explained that the union action was a late development and they needed to communicate as quickly as possible on the issue.  He further explained that this did have an impact on service delivery however other arrangements were put into place to limit disruption.

The Chair encouraged TPE to negotiate with the unions to resolve the issues.

 

5.6          Mayor Burnham raised the issue of cancellations penalties for operators  and enquired as to how these work under the new contracts.

 

The Rail North Partnership Director explained that these are still covered in the contracts and feed through to the performance payments as well as having remedial provisions attached to them.  He further explained that Northern work differently as they are an operator of last resort.  He stated that he would ask officers to provide Mayor Burnham with the full details.

 

5.7          Mayor Driscoll raised the issue of connecting rural areas and offered to work together to lobby for extra pathways.

 

5.8          Cllr Hinchcliffe highlighted the faster recovery in the North and stated that  this needs to be flagged to Government so that subsidies can be gained and the North get the services that are required.

 

The Chair stated that due to the strong recovery the North should not be facing the cuts that the Government is suggesting.  He further added that there should not be an acceptance of the December 2021 timetable as a baseline as this was a pandemic timetable and should not be seen as the new normal and that Members want to be partners in designing  the new timetables.

 

5.9          Mayor Burnham raised the issue of the finance of the recovery; in highlighting the recovery of Northern he expressed concern that revenues appear greater than the return of passengers and was concerned that this was due to an increase in fare prices.

 

Mr. Powles explained that this was due to reduced season ticket purchases which are cheaper in cost than other tickets.

 

Resolved:

That the report be noted.

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