Arriva wins £1bn Northern rail franchise

Arriva trains Credit: Press Association

Arriva has been awarded the £1billion Northern rail franchise which operates through out the region.

They will run the Northern franchise – which is the second largest in the UK and operates regional and commuter services across the region – from April 2016 until March 2025.

The operator says Cumbria and Lancashire will see improvements to the trains and the network thanks to the new franchise:

  • Oversee the complete removal of the outdated Pacers by the end of 2019

  • Introduce more than 2,000 extra services each week

  • Invest £400 million in 281 brand new air-conditioned carriages to be rolled out across the North

First TransPennine Express will continue their services in the region after renewing their contract.

During the franchises, the government and Network Rail will also forge ahead with electrification of the TransPennine line to deliver faster journey times and significantly more capacity.

Network Rail is currently developing a detailed plan for the work which, when finished, will provide a fully electrified route between Liverpool and Newcastle.

The work is expected to be completed in 2022.

The operators will also support the roll out of Oyster-style smart ticketing on public transport across the north, backed by £150 million of government funding.