Harper announces TransPennine Express to lose contract over poor service

The secretary of state for transport Mark Harper today made a ministerial statement to the House of Commons on the news that TransPennine Express to be brought under government control.

Mr Harper said: “To achieve the performance levels I expect, that passengers deserve and that the northern economy needs, it’s clear that both the contract and the underlying relationships must be reset. And I have therefore decided not to renew or extend First TPE outright when it ends on the 28th of May”.