A Transport Secretary who can't make the trains run on time should consider his position '“ The Times on Chris Grayling

THE TIMES newspaper has challenged under-fire Chris Grayling to consider his position as Transport Secretary following the unprecedented chaos on the North’s railways.

Its stance re-enforces repeated calls by The Yorkshire Post over recent months, and also senior politicians, for the Cabinet minister to step down after a succession of policy mishaps led to a collective loss of confidence in his competence.

In a piece headlined ‘Northern Showerhouse’, it says ‘not for the first time. Chris Grayling is failing the on-time train test’ after the reinstatement of Northern-operated services led to cancellations across the region in a continuation of the disruption that has already cost the local economy nearly £40m according to newly-published research.

And it concludes: “In May Mr Grayling promised to make improving the service offered by Northern rail his department’s top priority.

“His pledge in the Commons to find out who was responsible for the operator’s failings was greeted with shouts of ‘you are’.

“There is wisdom in crowds, including, occasionally, in Parliament.

“Mr Grayling is in post more because of his loyalty to the prime Minister than managerial or reforming genius.

“Matching the supply of trains to demand, and making them run on time. should not be a fantasy in the country that invented them.

“It is a basic requirement for any advanced economy. A minister unable to meet that requirement should consider his position.”