Northern Rail Franchise ... run by Arriva from April 2016

[hatter76]

Should have added Manchester to Sheffield local stopping service to go to hourly, which will be an improvement at some point.

[hatter76]

A very English train driver this morning announced that the train was terminating at Manchester BAHNHOF!

Ah well, it beats the train's automatic announcer telling us "Welcome to Liverpool Lime Street" as we roll into Marple.

I've read through the document. Forget new trains to Marple they are for connect, fast services between the main cities. We are getting 25 year old cast offs displaced by Great Western and Scottish electrification. The old Sprinters will replace the pacers that are getting scrapped.
Also GM transport has prioritised the Victoria to Rochdale and Bradford for electrification, likely 2024 to 2030.

[hollins]

Thanks for the hot news, hollins!  So having been partly owned by the Dutch government for the past 12 years, our trains are now being taken over by the Germans (Arriva being a subsidiary of Deutsche Bahn AG).

A very English train driver this morning announced that the train was terminating at Manchester BAHNHOF!

Ah well, it beats the train's automatic announcer telling us "Welcome to Liverpool Lime Street" as we roll into Marple.

[Melancholyflower]

Good news indeed on the Pacer removal.

No plans to open new routes in there but assume this would be a DfT decision instead?

[Dave]

Thanks for the hot news, hollins!  So having been partly owned by the Dutch government for the past 12 years, our trains are now being taken over by the Germans (Arriva being a subsidiary of Deutsche Bahn AG).

But it can't get any worse can it!   And I really go for this bit:  'the removal of all Pacer trains within three years.'    At last.............. 

[hollins]

Arriva's intentions for the Northern Rail Franchise that they will take over from April 2016 ...
http://www.arriva.co.uk/media/news/2015/09-12-2015