TransPennine rail services yet to reach their nadir: The Yorkshire Post says

In a letter to local officials seen by The Yorkshire Post, t he new state-owned operator has revealed that in addition to existing problems including “substantial under-investment in the business” and ongoing industrial action, some drivers have decided not to transfer to the new structure.

Alarmingly, an initial review of TPE’s current plans has concluded “they are even more stretched than we had understood”.

TPE, which handed control of services over the the Government yesterday after its contract expired, has been cancelling more trains than any other operator, with the equivalent of 14.9 per cent axed in the four weeks to April 29.

Both Rail Minister Huw Merriman and West Yorkshire mayor Tracy Brabin have separately expressed their hopes that the nationalisation represents a “reset moment”.

But, as the operator’s very slight name adjustment to TransPennine Trains indicates, much-needed improvements are more likely to be incremental than immediate.

Although now part of the Department for Transport’s Operator of Last Resort, the reality is trains, fares, timetables and staff are unchanged.

In the circumstances, nationalisation was the right move but offers no magic bullet. Long-suffering commuters will be asked for patience but have already had to put up with substandard services for too long.