Liverpool to London train operator Avanti West Coast forced to apologise for ‘disgraceful’ presentation in which managers joked about receiving ‘free money’ from the Government. Tony McDonough reports
Train operator Avanti West Coast has apologised for a “regrettable” presentation from senior managers which joked about receiving “free money” from the Government.
A report in left wing news outlet Novara Media revealed details of the internal presentation delivered by executives of the Liverpool to London rail operator which has just been awarded a new nine-year contract despite a record of poor service.
During the presentation managers joked about receiving “free money” from the Government and performance-related payments being “too good to be true”. One slide was entitled “Roll up, roll-up get your free money here!”.
RMT general secretary, Mick Lynch, said: “Avanti is one of the worst rail companies in terms of performance and how it treats rail staff. For senior management to produce a PowerPoint slide bragging about the Government paying them public money is a disgrace.
“The fact the company feels emboldened to boast that they get ‘free money’ is down to the ridiculous system of rail ownership in this country.
“Ultimately, profit-driven companies who receive huge public subsidies have failed to deliver for railway workers and passengers alike.”
His sentiments were echoed by Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram, who added: “Unsurprising but no less disappointing to see the contempt that Avanti has for taxpayers’ money – it’s consistent with their attitude to passengers and performance.”
An Avanti West Coast spokesperson said: “This does not represent Avanti West Coast’s view of the Service Quality Regime and was an isolated incident.
“These slides were an attempt to explain how the SQR works to some of our colleagues, but the language used in this was regrettable and we apologise.”
In September 2023, Avanti West Coast, a joint venture between First Group and TrenItalia, secured a new nine-year contract from the Government to run West Coast mainline services, linking Liverpool, Manchester and other locations with London.
Passengers, business leaders and politicians reacted with fury and disbelief when Avanti introduced a reduced timetable on its services linking Liverpool, Manchester, Glasgow and Birmingham with London in August 2022.
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Avanti blamed the move on “unofficial strike action” by members of rain drivers’ union Aslef. The union denied the claim.
In the run up to awarding of the contract the Government said Avanti had made significant improvements to its services. However, in December is slashed timetables once again amid more late-running trains and cancellations.