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 :)
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