The Office of Rail and Road has written to rail operator Avanti West Coast after passengers are left frustrated with ongoing issues regarding timetable information and the booking of tickets in recent months. The regulator has called for significant improvements to its recovery plan for releasing timetables for passengers to use ahead of travel.

Avanti was making fair progress when compared to its September 2022 plan, however, an increase in the notice for passengers to book travel on the run-up to Christmas and since 2023 began has seen its standing deteriorate.

Weekends in January has seen passenger only able to book tickets for a few days ahead and whilst Avanti’s plans for February reveal a more positive picture for travel in the week is it still very much behind with regards to weekend travel.

The Office of Rail and Road has requested the submission of an improved recovery plan for timetable production by the 2nd of February 2023 as part of the rail operator’s information license requirement.

Stephanie Tobyn, Director of Strategy, Policy and Reform at ORR said: “Passengers are rightly frustrated that this situation has deteriorated so quickly after a steady start to the recovery plan late last year.

“By 2 February we expect Avanti to identify what has gone wrong and set out how it intends to get back to releasing timetables in normal industry timescales so that passengers can plan and book journeys with greater confidence”.

“Failure to produce an acceptable plan or to deliver improvements may lead to more formal measures.”

The Office of Rail and Road recently sent a letter to the rail industry requesting a need to change in order to be more passenger-friendly in relation to late changes to services.