Transport bosses in talks over 'rail academy for the North' to help solve staff shortage crisis

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

It's been a summer of misery on the North's railways as strikes brought services to a standstill and planned trains were cancelled at short notice.

All too often it's staff shortages - either caused by drivers refusing to work on rest days, sickness or a lack of training and recruitment - which means operators like Avanti West Coast and TransPennine Express leave passengers in the lurch. Read more: Customers say they are STILL struggling for tickets as the clock ticks on Avanti West Coast But industry figures across the North are working on a plan which, if successful, could create a "pipeline" of skilled railway workers to plug the gaps which operators are struggling to fill.

The Northern Agenda politics newsletter has learned that operators, Northern transport leaders and the Government are working on plans for a 'Rail Academy for the North' to dramatically improve the training and recruitment of rail staff.

Talks are at an early stage but the plan would involve a multi-location training academy offering people across the North the opportunity to develop the skills needed for careers in rail and provide operators with a sustainable supply of skilled staff.