Member Article

Operator shortlist released for £1 billion Northern rail services

The Department for Transport has announced the train companies that are in the running to ‘transform’ Northern rail services.

This comes as demonstrations by the RMT foreshadowed cuts and a carve-up of the routes that may affect both passengers and staff on the railways.

All of these companies shortlisted will be asked to develop their plans for the franchises before they receive the government’s ‘Invitation to Tender’ in December.

Bidders will be expected to show how they will make the most of the government’s £1 billion investment programme for the rail network in the north of England, which will provide faster and more reliable journeys, more capacity, better trains and improved connections for passengers across the region.

The shortlisted bidders to run York-based Northern are Abellio Northern Ltd, Arriva Rail North Ltd and Govia Northern Ltd.

The bidders to run TPE are First Trans Pennine Express Ltd, Keolis Go-Ahead Ltd and Stagecoach Trans Pennine Express Trains Ltd.

Rail Minister Claire Perry said: “The north is undergoing a real rail renaissance, and we will be asking these companies to come up with innovative and ambitious proposals that will ensure a truly world-class rail network for the region.

“Building a railway that is fit for the 21st century is a vital part of our long term economic plan, connecting businesses and communities, generating jobs and boosting growth, and we need strong private sector partners to help us achieve this ambition.”

The new operator will also be expected to work closely with Rail North, which represents the region’s local authorities, to ensure local rail users will have more influence in how their train services are run.

Sir Richard Leese, for Rail North, said: “The companies on the shortlists demonstrate the interest there is in meeting Rail North’s desire to see the railway acting as an economic driver in the north of England.

“We look forward to working with the bidders to deliver strong franchises for passengers, which reflect the aims and objectives of our Long Term Rail Strategy and the predicted growth in patronage.”

RMT delivered thousands of protest cards to the Department for Transport as consultation closed yesterday on York-based Northern and Trans-Pennine Express rail carve-up.

RMT campaigners from across the North joined a protest at the Department for Transport in London opposing the consultation plans for the Northern and TPE franchises which would axe jobs, raise fares, cancel key services and close ticket offices and stations.

Mick Cash, RMT acting general secretary, said: “Today was just round one of the fight to stop the carve up of jobs and services on Northern and Trans-Pennine Express, we now move into the next phase which is ratcheting up the political pressure on this issue with the next election looming large on the horizon.

“Politicians across the North need to recognise that if they don’t oppose the plans to rip apart rail services in the region in the name of profit then they will be called to account by an electorate that RMT will ensure is fully aware of the issues.

“The only solution to this racketeering on our railway tracks is public ownership and the return of our railways to the people on the basis that they are run as a public service and not as a get-rich-quick scheme for greedy private train companies.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Clare Burnett .