Boss's departure follows Arriva fine

The news follows the revelation that Arriva trains were fined £9.3 million for poor performance in Yorkshire last year.

Earlier this month, Arriva announced plans to cut down its timetable to cope with an increasing number of cancellations due to driver shortages.

The company confirmed today that Mr Patterson had left on Friday and said Euan Cameron, an executive director of Arriva Plc and managing director of Arriva Trains, had taken immediate day-to-day control of the business.

Meanwhile, details of the £9.3 million fine emerged for the financial year ending last March.

The fine is made up of deductions from Arriva's state subsidy for running the Yorkshire franchise.

And it is claimed that the company - which runs the busy York to Leeds line - could be looking at a similar amount of penalties for its performance this year.

A spokesman for the Strategic Rail Authority confirmed Arriva had been penalised by £9.3m, but said the figure was "a few months old".

He was unable to comment on any fine Arriva could be facing for its performance in this financial year.

But Arriva Trains Northern director of corporate communications Julian Evans said: "The figure quoted is not something we would comment on."

He also declined to comment on whether any of the money could be recouped from Railtrack, as many of the problems with Arriva's services stemmed from building work at Leeds City Station.

Railtrack is carrying out a multi million pound redevelopment at Leeds, but the long-term work has led to some major delays and outrage among customers.

Mr Evans said: "We would have engaged with Railtrack on this issue, yes, but that is all historical now.

"Situations such as that are sorted out quite quickly within the industry."

Mr Evans said that other issues, such as the knock-on from the Hatfield crash, driver shortage and last year's flooding had all affected Arriva's performance.

Updated: 11:17 Tuesday, September 18, 2001