'An unacceptable service for too long': Reaction as train operator TransPennine Express brought under government control
manchestereveningnews.co.ukPoliticians, unions and, most importantly, long-suffering passengers had their say today after much-criticised train operating company TransPennine Express was brought under Government control.
After months of speculation following many more months of delays and cancellations impacting on frustrated commuters across Greater Manchester and the city region, Transport Secretary Mark Harper announced on Thursday train services run by TPE would be nationalised as operator Northern was in 2020.
The Department for Transport (DfT) said TPE services would be brought under its Operator of Last Resort from May 28. READ MORE: Join the FREE Manchester Evening News WhatsApp community Graham Sutherland, chief executive of TransPennine Express' owners, FirstGroup, insisted the company has 'worked extremely hard to improve services', but Labour's shadow transport secretary Louise Haigh said ministers had 'finally accepted they can no longer defend the indefensible'.
An independent watchdog for transport users, meanwhile, said simply passengers had 'endured an unacceptable service for too long'.
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