Northern leaders and unions have called for the termination of Avanti West Coast's rail contract, urging its return to public ownership within days. Transport for the North voted unanimously to request the Secretary of State to end Avanti's contract, citing months of service disruption and a breakdown in relations between staff and management as key reasons. Mick Lynch of RMT Union emphasized that nationalizing the service would benefit the North, the entire country, and Avanti's workforce. Criticism of the current privatized rail system includes foreign governments profiting from UK rail operations and operators boasting about receiving 'free money' from the government. The call for nationalization follows a period of poor performance by Avanti, with leaders and unions highlighting the need for better service for passengers. Awarding Avanti West Coast a new nine-year contract was criticized as rewarding failure.
Awarding @AvantiWestCoast a new nine year contract was merely rewarding failure. Avanti managers boasting of receiving ‘free money’ was an insult. It’s time this government accepted their mistake and ended this farce. Passengers deserve better. https://t.co/2w1iJScq9U
🚨 New: Avanti West Coast could be taken into public ownership within days [@AvaSantina]
The days of the North settling for a second class service are over. Poor rail performance holds us back from fulfilling our true potential. Strip the contract - now. https://t.co/G6O7AQOn01
NEW: Avanti West Coast Rail could be nationalised within days. Public control of the franchise would follow months of disruption and regular cancellations. Part owed to irreparable breakdown in relations between staff and management. https://t.co/wfdFVyxVIC
NEW: Avanti West Coast Rail could be nationalised within days https://t.co/pCTreyHOZz
Rail operator Avanti West Coast should be stripped of its contract "at the earliest possible opportunity", according to Transport for the North. https://t.co/RFyz7k1E4a
Strip Avanti of West Coast Main Line franchise, say Northern leaders https://t.co/JQRSN2gBxI
Rail operator Avanti West Coast should be stripped of its contract "at the earliest possible opportunity", according to Transport for the North https://t.co/yYmJmdrNXF
We welcome TfN's calls today to remove Avanti's contract and support the removal of all operator contracts with the government. They offer nothing to the passenger, taxpayer or workforce, and have seen holders openly boasting about the 'free money' they get from government. (1/2)
NEW: @RMTunion has welcomed Transport for the North's call to terminate Avanti West Coast’s contract & bring it into public ownership. Mick Lynch: “This would be the right move for the North, for the country as a whole & for the workforce at Avanti. The government must now act.”
🚨 RMT welcomes Transport for the North’s call to terminate Avanti contract: @RMTunion today welcomed the news that @Transport4North voted unanimously to write to the Secretary of State calling on him to terminate @AvantiWestCoast contract. Read more: https://t.co/ejJvK2bNBp
The Privatisation of our rail networks has been a complete failure. Why should we have foreign governments profitting by running our trains, stations and networks? Time to return them to serving the people of this country not fat cats & foreign governments. https://t.co/x2vjq9M0OC
Northern leaders vote to end Avanti West Coast rail contract https://t.co/ZRJAuUxTQH