Avanti West Coast received millions of pounds in taxpayer-funded bonuses during a period when it was the UK’s worst train operator for delays, according to analysis by the Labor party.
The analysis, which used Department for Transport (DfT) figures published on Thursday, found the company received the highest possible rating for “operational performance” and “customer satisfaction” between April 1 and September 18 of last year. These valuations contributed to a bonus payment of £4.1m.
But figures from the Office of Rail and Road (ORR), the government department that regulates Britain’s railways, showed that between April and June that year only 60.1% of Avanti trains stopped on the coast west were one minute behind the scheduled time, the worst. figure for all operators.
Shadow transport secretary Louise Haigh called the bonus payments a “scandalous waste of taxpayers’ money” and a “symptom of a broken rail system”.
“Ministers have rewarded abject failure by handing out millions of pounds in bonuses and performance fees to this failed operator,” he said.
“Instead of requiring operators to account for their outlandish performance, ministers are handing out taxpayer-funded bonuses.
“This is a symptom of a broken rail system where passengers come last.
“The next Labor government will return our railways to public ownership as contracts expire, ending the Tories’ failed system and putting passengers back at the heart of our rail network.”
Avanti West Coast has also faced criticism in recent months for major schedule reductions, cancellations and overcrowding.
Ministers were criticized in October for renewing his contract despite problems with the company’s services.
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A new timetable introduced earlier this month included a 40% increase in services, according to the company, which is a joint venture between FirstGroup and Italian state operator Trenitalia.
A DfT spokesman said: “This performance rate is based on data from before the current period of disruption. Avanti needs to improve services on its network to ensure that passengers can get the reliable and punctual service that is they deserve
“We have placed Avanti on a short-term, six-month contract as they roll out vital improvements and service updates and continue to monitor the situation closely.”