The boss of UK train operator Avanti West Coast has stepped down, just weeks after the company drew criticism for cutting back its schedule.
Managing director Phil Whittingham has announced that he will leave his role at Avanti from 15 September to “pursue other executive leadership opportunities”.
Whittingham’s departure comes just weeks after Avanti West Coast cut the number of services from London to Glasgow, Edinburgh, Manchester, Liverpool and Birmingham.
This reduction in Avanti’s schedule on these key routes was initially planned for four weeks between 14 August and 11 September, but it has now been extended “until further notice”.
The operator said the decision had been made due to the “current industrial relations climate which has resulted in severe staff shortages”.
Avanti’s move has been widely criticised, with Clive Wratten, CEO of the Business Travel Association, saying it would “create significant hurt” for business travellers.
Following Whittingham’s resignation, Steve Montgomery, managing director of parent company First Rail will provide “executive leadership support” to Avanti’s team “in the immediate future”.
“Having led the team through the challenges presented by the pandemic over the last two years and into the recovery period, Phil leaves with the team ready for the challenges in delivering the future service requirements,” said Montgomery.
Avanti said that the decision to reduce its timetable “was not taken lightly and we are sorry for the enormous frustration and inconvenience this will cause.”
The operator is also suspending ticket sales for travel between 14-18 September due to new strikes being held by the RMT and Aslef unions later this month.
The RMT is holding nationwide rail strikes on 15 and 17 September in its ongoing dispute over pay and jobs; train drivers’ union Aslef will also take industrial action on 15 September, which will affect 12 train operators, including Avanti West Coast, in its own separate pay dispute.