TransPennine Express to be nationalised after FirstGroup lost contract due to poor service

TransPennine Express, the train service covering Manchester, Liverpool, Edinburgh, and Glasgow, will be nationalised following numerous customer complaints and train cancellations. The government will take over operations with the aim of improving service quality, though passengers will not experience immediate changes. In recent months, about a quarter of TransPennine Express services were cancelled, reducing to around one in six in March but still the highest cancellation rate in the UK. The decision not to renew the contract with FirstGroup, the company running TransPennine, was influenced by staff shortages and disruptions since early 2022.

The Transport Secretary acknowledged that nationalising TransPennine Express would not instantly resolve the challenges faced. Strikes by the drivers’ union Aslef were cited as a hindrance to offering a full service. FirstGroup expressed disappointment in the government’s decision while emphasising the important role of private rail operators in delivering environmentally-friendly transport. West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin supported the nationalisation, describing TransPennine’s failures as damaging to the economy and an opportunity to reset relationships between unions and management.

The government’s decision to take over TransPennine Express follows similar interventions in other train services, including Northern, London and North Eastern Railway (LNER), and Southeastern Trains.