Rail North Partnership, through which the Department and Transport for the North jointly manage TransPennine Express’s (TPE’s) contract, constantly monitors its performance and is in frequent contact with TPE’s senior management and operational teams. Rail North Partnership uses the contract to hold TPE to account for its performance when failure is within its control. Ministers recently met First Rail and TPE management to make clear TPE’s service must improve. Rail North Partnership is working with TPE on a recovery plan aimed at building back a reliable service. Ministers will assess the plan’s ability to deliver the improvements TPE recognises are needed.