Why Hull Trains is deserving of Government support to stay on track

HULL Trains provides a great service for passengers travelling between East Yorkshire and London. The company is consistently at the top of the National Rail Passenger Survey and had hoped to build on its stellar reputation with the introduction of its £60m Paragon fleet.

While the suspension of services is understandable given the coronavirus outbreak, it is nonetheless a tragedy for both the workforce and residents who rely on the service. It is therefore vital the Government does all it can to allow Hull Trains to get back up and running as soon as possible once we are through this epidemic.

I have been in constant contact with Ministers about this issue. I have stressed to the Government the importance of treating all rail companies fairly and have told the Government I will be asking the competition authorities to review the comparative treatment of the open-access operators and the franchised operators.

The authorities must ensure all railway operators, including Hull Trains, are treated fairly and that no improper disadvantage is created due to the epidemic. It is vital that Hull Trains is kept financially viable for the time when the crisis abates.

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James Mitchinson

Editor