Avanti keeps contract

Ministers have given another contract extension to Avanti West Coast, saying the poorly performing rail operator had made improvements to services. Mark Harper, the transport secretary, said that while he understood the frustrations of passengers, he had extended the contract for a further six months to the end of October. For Avanti to continue to hold the contract improvements would need to be made, he added.

Labour said Avanti had “broken records” in recent months for delays and cancellations, and that the decision was inexplicable.

Last summer the rail firm, which runs trains between London, Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow, imposed a drastically reduced timetable.