Stadler has been fined over £2 million for failing to provide enough trains, leaving passengers frustrated with delays and unreliable service.
The old trains are really showing their age. They’re 45 years old and breaking down more often. Passengers have been dealing with delays and uncomfortable rides for a while now. Stadler is working on a new fleet, but it won’t be fully operational for another two years.
Recently, things got even messier with the closure of the Gateshead Flyover. This led to more cancellations and a drop in service reliability. In fact, during one month, only 61% of services were on time. That’s pretty rough!
Despite the fines, there’s a bit of good news. Train reliability has improved by nearly 20% this year. Still, many passengers are frustrated. They want action to ensure a more reliable service.
Nexus, the operator, is putting the fines back into improving the current service. But with over a third of services late during a recent busy period, it’s clear there’s still a lot of work to do.
John Fenwick from Nexus compared keeping the old trains running to maintaining classic cars. It’s tough! He mentioned that the cold weather and lack of spare parts are making things even harder.
Stadler is trying to make things better by using heaters and bringing in extra staff. But some passenger groups are saying that fines don’t help them. They just want reliable trains.
In the past, another company, DB Regio, faced similar fines before Nexus took over. Now, Stadler is under pressure to deliver. They admit the old fleet is hard to maintain, especially in winter.
Stadler is excited about the new trains they’re rolling out. They promise a better experience for passengers, especially for those with disabilities. Let’s hope they can turn things around soon!
