The recent troubles facing many train operators, including
Avanti West Coast, have underlined the need for transformative
change. A reluctance to let go of out-of-date working practices
combined with a lack of trust that is undermining managerial
practices is resulting in a poor passenger experience. Urgent
intervention is needed to restore services and reset the rail
industry on route to a more profitable future.
In late July, Avanti West Coast was forced to cut the number of
trains on its popular London Euston to Edinburgh service, when
drivers refused to work additional shifts over and above their
contracted hours. As with many other operators, the train operating
company (TOC) had been relying on rest-day working to operate its
timetable, which effectively meant that drivers had to volunteer to
work overtime. As unusual as it might seem to industry onlookers,
this working arrangement has become common practice across the rail
sector and has been operating
