CLWYD WEST MP David Jones has expressed his disappointment at the decision to extend Avanti West Coast’s operation in North Wales by six months.

The troubled rail firm has been warned to "drastically improve services" after the Department for Transport decided to extend its services to April 2023.

This is despite widespread criticism of the operator around the country, and particularly in North Wales.

Recently, MPs across North Wales called for the end to the Avanti franchise on the West Coast Main Line, which covers the region.

Transport Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan said services on Avanti had been "unacceptable", with train timetables slashed in the summer and its reliance of on workers doing overtime.

David Jones MP said he was “deeply disappointed” at the decision to renew Avanti’s contract, but said the train operator had outlined steps for improvement to North Wales train services.

In a letter sent today to the Rail Minister, Kevin Foster, David Jones said: “Yesterday, I held a meeting with colleagues and senior executives of Avanti West Coast (AWC).

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“They readily acknowledged that the service provided by AWC is substandard and outlined to us the steps that they propose to take in order to restore, after December 11, a service of something like 90 per cent of the standard that was provided prior to the pandemic.

“To be completely clear: despite their assurances, I have no confidence whatever in AWC‘s ability to provide a service comparable with that which was provided before the pandemic.

“I note that it has been announced this morning that you have decided to extend AWC’s franchise by another six months.

“I have to say that I (and, I have no doubt, my constituents) am deeply disappointed by this news.

“I strongly urge you to monitor the performance of AWC closely over that period and, if there is not a very considerable improvement indeed, revoke the franchise without further extension.

“To be blunt, AWC have let my constituents down very badly. I am disappointed that they are being given another chance. I urge you to make very clear to them that it is the last chance.”