LOCAL train company ARRIVA is planning to cut services - replacing some with buses - in the wake of growing driver shortages.
The proposal comes as the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) revealed it is considering enforcement action against the embattled train company over the level of cancellations.
Trains, including services on the key Transpennine Express route from York to Manchester, have been repeatedly cancelled because there has not been enough drivers.
The Evening Press reported in June how drivers were migrating to other train companies who were paying many thousands of pounds more.
Now ARRIVA wants to modify its timetable to a level where it will feel confident that drivers can be found to run them.
Chief Executive Bob Davis said in a letter to MPs, local authorities and rail user groups that ARRIVA was "experiencing serious operational problems as a result of driver shortages, despite undertaking one of the largest driver recruitment and training programmes ever seen in the industry".
He said that when it took over the Northern Spirit franchise from MTL, there was a shortfall of 60 staff.
Updated: 11:17 Wednesday, September 05, 2001
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