Avanti West Coast to cut number of services in December

Andy Burnham says news is a ‘kick in the teeth’ when rail operator has just won nine-year contract

Avanti West Coast is to cut the number of services it operates in December because of staff shortages, reducing weekend train frequency on one of Britain’s main intercity lines before Christmas.

The Manchester mayor, Andy Burnham, described the news as a “kick in the teeth”, with the operator confirming the decision only weeks after it was awarded a nine-year contract by the government, after having been put on notice to improve its performance.