TransPennine Express's new boss explains why it's been letting passengers down

The new boss of TransPennine Express said the rail operator is struggling because it's "become far too complicated" as he revealed its drivers have 5,000 outstanding training days still to take.

Chris Jackson spoke to Northern leaders yesterday (Wednesday) after being named interim managing director of TransPennine, which is now under state control after months of cancellations and delays.

And he said he wanted to "get to the core of the issues...facing" the operator, which cancelled the equivalent of one in seven trains across the North of England and Scotland in the four weeks to April 29.

Read more: Andy Burnham hails Transpennine Express contract axe a 'victory' as he vows to reshape northern rail travel

Among the reasons for the sky-high cancellation rate was the amount of training still needed for drivers to prepare them for working on upgraded transPennine rail routes and the backlog after the pandemic.

Mr Jackson said his three priorities were to make the trains run on time, to "reset relationships" and help deliver the "massive engineering programme" on the new rail routes between Manchester, Leeds and York.

He told members of Transport for the North's Rail North Committee, including Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham: "I think in short the business has become far too complicated.

"It's a relatively small business, but it has four different types of train that have generated a massive training burden, there are 5,000 outstanding training days, we need to significantly reduce that to improve reliability.

"And at the nub of the issue and the core challenge is, just 50% of drivers are competent to drive all types of train, and to drive over all the routes within their roster. It's a big gap."

Last month TPE