Get in touch
555-555-5555
mymail@mailservice.com
Northern going into public ownership.
Stuart Boyd • 29 January 2020
The inevitable has happened - From 1 March 2020 the Northern Rail franchise will be taken into public ownership.
Today, it was announced by The Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP that the Northern Rail franchise will be taken into public ownership. Something many people have wanted for a while. I can fully understand why people would want Northern gone. They had a plan, the plan didn't go to plan. Let's be honest though, that Isn't entirely the fault of Northern's. I am pleased to see that Mr Shapps acknowledges that in this statement.
Key points from the statement:
- 1st March will see the company operated by Northern Trains Limited (A subsidiary of DfT OLR Holdings Limited (DOHL).
- The roll out of trains that has already underway by Northern will continue.
- Pacers will be banished very soon.
- Next year electric trains will be transferred to the north to increase capacity between Leeds & Manchester.
- 30 stations will have the platforms extended to allow for longer trains.
- All Northern trains to be deep cleaned and cleaning practices to be reviewed.
- Infrastructure to have a new masterplan drawn up.
- Improved infrastructure in Leeds and Manchester to improve performance across the north.
- Staff jobs are safe, and all will be transferred over to the new public sector operator.
- Staff facilities are to be closely looked at and improved.
- All tickets, including season tickets, will still be valid.
The promises that have been made in the statement sound great. But I can't help but think that the new train roll out would continue if Northern stayed, the pacers have already started going under Northern. Trains getting sent to the North is nothing new, in fact trains quite often swap and change with operators. That makes me think the electric trains would have still been sent north even if Northern stayed.
To me it sounds very much like the promises getting made are for things that would of happened regardless if Northern stayed or went.
It might be an unpopular thing for me to say, but I have an ounce of sympathy for Northern.
When they took on the franchise, they were doing so under the promise of major infrastructure upgrades. Some of these upgrades simply never materialised, quadrupling the Castlefield Corridor, adding an additional two through platforms at Manchester Piccadilly (Platforms 15 & 16) are probably the most spoke about. Other infrastructure upgrades were massively delayed, Blackpool electrification works, Bolton to Preston electrification works to name a couple.
As I understand the timetables that were launched by Northern were made with all the improvement work that the DfT had promised getting done on time. As it is the timetable was ready on time, the infrastructure wasn't. Subsequently Northern had to redo the timetables in a space of only about 4 weeks, as opposed the 16+ weeks it usually takes. The rushed timetables were then approved by Network Rail and as we can all only remember so well, the chaos then began with Northern getting all the flack.
Throughout the last 4 years Northern have had to attempt to hurdle many staffing challenges. The RMT strikes crippled the network for 47 days. The strikes over Driver Only Operated trains and the role of any second member of staff on board the train. This is something Northern had to deal with due to the Department for Transport adding it into the agreement with Arriva. Yes, Arriva knew about it, but could they expect the amount of objection that was received? I sure didn't.
During the strikes I found very few people blaming the DfT for the planned introduction of DOO services. Another example of Northern taking the bullet for the DfT!
Another staffing issues arrived when the electrification work over ran on the Blackpool to Preston and Preston to Bolton line. The overrunning of the works saw significant delays in the route knowledge training of the drivers and guards. Speaking to several Northern staff I know this could have been managed better by Northern management, but the same staff also say that had Network Rail finished the electrification works then the whole training issue would of been avoided.
I know it sounds like all I'm doing is trying to pass the buck from Northern's faults. I am just highlighting that Northern are not the only people that are responsible for the issues. I am delighted that Mr Shapps has acknowledged this in his statement: "Many of Northern’s problems are due to inadequate infrastructure. That, too, must change"
Also, in the statement he specifically mentions the Castlefield corridor in Manchester. One of, if not, the busiest railway corridors in the North, or even Britain. This section of track was meant to be quadrupled at the same time as the Ordsall chord viaduct was built. All the Ordsall chord viaduct did without quadrupling the Castlefield Corridor was create more problems!
It is now time for Mr Shapps and the DfT to deliver! They are now responsible for both the Northern franchise and the tracks their trains will be running on! They will have nowhere to hide!
As the Northern Rail franchise comes to an end, here is just something to bear in mind; Northern Rail have had their faults, mainly at a management level, but they have delivered many positive things to the North West. Northern have introduced 600 new ticket vending machines across the network, many station improvements have been made, there has even been a passenger information screen installed at Kents Bank! And for crying out loud, there has even been a new bin installed at Nethertown!!! You know, for the masses of people that visit the station every year ;-).
Northern have also introduced brand new trains to the North West! Something that no other operator has done within the last decade, and not on this scale for many decades!
Finally, love them or hate them, Northern have started retiring the pacers! The last ones would be gone by May!
As a frequent rail user in North West I look forward to the improvements that Mr Shapps and the DfT have mentioned in the released statement. (I have to say though, I was already enjoying the improvements that Northern were carrying out).
Many thanks for taking the time to read my natterings about the drama that is Northern....
Until next time - The next time being quite soon ;-)
Stuart :)
Day three of the walk saw me starting nice and early at Llandudno Junction. With one simple aim, to get as far along the Conwy Valley as possible! Betws-y-Coed was the minimum target for the day. On this day I was joined by KD ( @roadsignreporter over on YouTube ). Walking to Glan Conwy was easy enough for us both, I kicked myself that I hadn't pushed myself the day before! Blooming beer! After Glan Conwy it was time for the first of the many hills that Wales was going to throw at me during this walk. We had to head up the steep hills to avoid walking along the very busy footpathless A470. You can see the scale of the diversion on the Strava map at the bottom. Things improved at Tal-y-Cafn when we arrived at the lovely station. Had a good chat with the Network Rail level crossing staff there who refilled our water bottles for us. After this we headed across the fields and along the B5106 which we would follow mostly until Betws-y-Coed. Only really leaving the road to pop to the required stations to walk too. We had a nice surprise at Dalgarrog when we came across the Dolgarrog Railway Society platform where we chatted with one of the members. They told us about the work they are doing with the site. Was a really nice break from walking. Between Dolgarrog and Llanrwst our pace slowed down a fair bit, I think this was down to the heat, and it became clear Betws-y-Coed was going to be the end point for the day! We reached the village and the road kindly dropped us off at the Spar shop and bakery so was able to stock up on some essential cakes and drinks. Shout out to the TfW guard on the train back to Llandudno Junction who kindly wavered the fare for the journey. Was much appreciated!
Day two of the walk saw me walking from Bangor to Llandudno Junction. This day was a lovely walk mostly along the North Wales Coast Path. With getting ahead of schedule the day before I was able to relax a little today. So the target today was Penmaenmawr, anything after that was a bonus. On this day I was joined by friend and boss. Special mention to Ian, honestly without him keeping me on full pay while on these charity walks they simply wouldn't be able to happen! We stopped at the beach café at Penmaenmawr where comically we was counting out pennies to pay for our lunch as the café didn't accept card! While having lunch we looked at how far we would be able to walk. We set our target on Glan Conwy. We was going well following the A55 right until we arrived at Conwy where we went to a pub for a pint... After this we decided that with beer in us we wasn't going to be making it to Glan Conwy. Instead we slowly made our way to Llandudno Junction where we called it a day!
Day one of the walk would see me walk from Holyhead to Bangor. This was not the original plan. The original plan was to only walk to Bodorgan. But upon reaching Bodorgan and just missing a train I decided to push on and just see how far I could get! Sadly on day one I was on my own that day. But that was probably a good thing, I don't think many would of approved of walking 32 miles!
Kildale station is located on the very scenic Esk Valley Line that runs from Middlesborough to Whitby. From the June 2024 timetable change the station will see 8 trains per day, 4 in each direction! Although this is a limited service it does give you the opportunity to do some exploring of the area.
I set of on a walk with my sisters dog and headed for the disused canal from Kendal. I followed along disused canal to the village of Natland. I then swapped the disused canal for the river. After following the riverside path, I came across a footbridge that I had planned to use, annoyingly it was closed! Annoyingly I was planning to use this footbridge, due to this there was a lenghty diversion. Thankfully the diversion wasn't a total waste of time, I was able to walk through the beautiful Sizergh Castle and then head back up to my original route plan and headed to Helsington church and view point. After spending a little time chatting with my Dad (who's ashs was scattered there) me and Bailey then headed up to Scout Scar before setting of back down towards Kendal. Upon reaching the River Kent I decided that my feet was still feeling good and I headed back along the river to Hawes Bridge. I then headed up into the village of Natland and then up to Oxenholme where my walk came to an end!
A blog about the new Northumberland Line that is scheduled to start opening in the Summer of 2024.
This walk was a tail of two halves! The day started with walking through Reading suburbs and then through the city centre. Things mid morning took a positive turn as we headed to the The Kennet and Avon Canal which I then followed for the remaineder of the day. Only hopping away from the canal to go on to station platforms. A very enjoyable walk, even in the scorching heat! Stations visted today was: Reading, Reading West, Theale, Aldermaston & ended the day at Midgham. By walking between Aldermaston and Midgham I actually have managed to get a station ahead on my plan which can only be a good thing as I head down to the more difficult reagions of Somerset & Devon next week. Until tomorrow :)
Todays walk was a little bit of a tough one, mainly due to the excessive heat which is only going to get worse as the week goes on. Thinking there will be some early starts coming up to try and miss the worst of the heat! Today was a mixture of roads and walks across fields. Discovered there is some beautiful countryside between Maidenhead and Twyford. I strongly encourage you to take this walk! Stations visited today: Burnham, Taplow, Maidenhead and ended at Twyford. Was great to have Nick Badley along with me today. Make sure to check out and subscribe to his YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@NickBadley . After the walk myself and Nick headed to Windsor where we met up with Coastway Will and had a Nandos dinner where the unlimited refils was very much used again and again! Until tomorrow :)
Todays walk saw me starting at Southall and heading straight to The Grand Union Canal. We followed this for most of the walk today. Stations called at today was: Hayes & Harlington, West Drayton, Iver, Langley before finishing the walk at Slough. Was great to have pals Jack and Dave with me today. Laughed for the most part, especially when we got the wrong place for the London/Buckinghamshire borders. That video on twitter got filmed twice lol. Massive thank you to everyone supporting the event via donations to either/both: Donate to Samaritans: https://justgiving.com/page/greatwesternwalk Support me with the challenge: https://www.gofundme.com/f/GreatWesternWalk My photos from today are below. Daves photos from today can be found here on his Flickr photostream: https://flic.kr/ps/3ppCTV Until tomorrow :)
The first day of the walk from London Paddington to Southall saw me call at Acton Mainline, Ealing Broadway, West Ealing & Hanwell. On the way we saw unexpected viaducts, fancy McDonalds, pretty gardens & nice market squares. Today I was joined by a couple of friends who can be found online at the following places, Please do check their accounts out. Jack All Station: twitter.com/JackAllStations Midland London: youtube.com/@MidlandLondon Below is a selection of photos from today.