LABOUR MP Charlotte Nichols has lambasted the decision to award Avanti West Coast with a new railway contract.

The rail operator, which manages Warrington Bank Quay, has come under fire recently - having already been addressed by the Prime Minister.

At the end of last year, Rishi Sunak was questioned by Esther McVey about the quality of the services ran by Avanti West Coast.

Warrington Guardian: Avanti West Coast manages Warrington Bank QuayAvanti West Coast manages Warrington Bank Quay (Image: Newsquest)

During a session of PMQs in November, Ms McVey said: "You’d be very lucky if you got a direct train and the journey time is often double, and that’s not restricted to strike days, that’s day in, day out on Avanti trains."

She then asked what the Government is 'going to do to sort this out' and 'get the west coast service back to what it used to be.'

The Prime Minister responded, saying: "My right honourable friend is absolutely right about the unacceptable deterioration in the quality of Avanti’s service.

“The Transport Secretary is rightly monitoring and holding them to account.”

Warrington Guardian: The Prime Minister blasted the quality of Avanti's services in November, before the Government awarded the company a new contract this weekThe Prime Minister blasted the quality of Avanti's services in November, before the Government awarded the company a new contract this week (Image: Parliament TV)

In a recent update, however, the Government has awarded Avanti with a new nine-year contract.

Labour's Charlotte Nichols, MP for Warrington North, lashed out at the decision, saying that the Government is 'rewarding failure.'

It was recently revealed that almost 70 per cent of all trains in Warrington were delayed or cancelled in the 12 weeks leading to September 5.

Ms Nichols spoke about the decision in the House of Commons, and posted on social media about the new contract.

Warrington Guardian: Labour's Charlotte Nichols blasted the decision to award Avanti a new nine-year contractLabour's Charlotte Nichols blasted the decision to award Avanti a new nine-year contract (Image: Newsquest)

The Labour MP said: "Passengers who rely on Avanti's abysmal service will be appalled that, despite being almost rock bottom of the league table for delays, Avanti is being awarded a lucrative new nine-year contract.

"The Government is rewarding failure."

She added: "Today I questioned the Department for Transport on the wisdom of this latest decision, including the impact that delays on the West Coast Mainline have not only on Warrington's connectivity north/south, but also east/west for the services that have to cross this line."