‘The service won’t improve just because another operator, be it public or private, takes over’ - Matthew Golton, managing director of TransPennine Express

We are working around the clock, seven days a week, to address the combination of issues we face.

We currently have an unprecedented programme of driver training, greater than any other operator in the North, in part caused by the Transpennine Route Upgrade that will deliver long-term improvements for the network.

This improvement scheme requires several diversions on our routes which in turn increases the burden of required driver training.

It’s because of this that we have continued our recruitment plans at pace and now have more drivers than ever before – over 580. Were all our training needs complete, we would have enough drivers to run a full timetable, seven days a week, across all parts of the network.

Clearly, that isn’t where we are today. Some problems can be fixed by operational changes in our business, and where there are practical solutions within our control, I am determined to deliver them through our recovery plans. But some of the challenges are not wholly in our control.

Unfortunately, there has been no overtime agreement in place for our drivers since December 2021 and we have been unable to secure a new deal for more than a year.

In December 2022, we presented an offer which would have given our drivers an overtime deal of 1.5x their normal rate of pay, with a minimum of five hours paid regardless of the work required. Representatives of the drivers’ union, ASLEF, did not support that offer.

Working with the Department for Transport (DfT), we were able to put a revised offer on the table towards the end of February this year. We are still willing to pay 1.5x for overtime and will now guarantee a minimum of 10 hours pay – equating to just under £480 per shift.

ASLEF representatives do not support this offer as it stands, but we will continue to work constructively together to see whether we can find a resolution that works for all.

We know that customers want us to deliver improvement to our service delivery as soon as possible.

Getting to an accord that enables the restoration of overtime would speed our training and drive much quicker benefits - helping us to give our customers the reliability they demand and deserve.

This issue with the restoration of driver overtime is one of the reasons why nationalisation calls miss the point. The service won’t improve just because another operator, be it public or private, takes over.

What’s needed for the people of Yorkshire is for all involved in the matters that impact our service – including our political leaders – to work together and play their part in restoring reliability and delivering a better railway for Yorkshire and beyond.

Matthew Golton is the managing director of TransPennine Express.