ARRIVA has won the Northern franchise and Transpennine Express has been awarded to First.
The Department for Transport said the awards meant a '£1.2 billion boost' which would result in 'unprecedented' improvements, including more than 500 new vehicles, the abolition of the 'outdated and unpopular' Pacers and more than 2,000 additional services each week, with the result that capacity will be increased to cater for 40,000 more passengers at peak times.
The managing director of FirstGroup's rail division Steve Montgomery told Railnews he was 'delighted' by the award of the Transpennine Express contract to his company, and that First would be investing £500 million during the seven-year term, which also includes a possible two-year extension.
First will be committed to introducing 44 new trains, consisting of 220 vehicles. The frequency on many routes will be increased, so that there will be six trains an hour between Manchester and Leeds, and 35 a day between Manchester and Scotland -- twiice as many as now. A new route between Liverpool and Scotland will be introduced in 2019.
He added: "The result of all these improvements will be another 13 million seats a year."
Arriva said its franchise would continue to use the 'Northern' brand, although this will be 'refreshed'.
Arriva’s UK Trains managing director Chris Burchell said: “We are proud to be given the opportunity to transform rail travel for passengers in the North of England and to work closely with our partners to connect towns, cities and communities like never before."
The new Northern franchise, which will run from next April until 2025, will gain 98 new trains, consisting of 281 vehicles. Arriva said it would refurbish the existing fleet and also remove all Pacers by 2019. Journey times will be improved by up to 20 per cent on some routes, and the network itself will be changed by the addition of 'Northern Connect', a collection of 12 long distance routes from 2019 serving Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle and Sheffield. This will include new routes from Bradford to Manchester Airport and Lincoln to Leeds.
Stations will be upgraded, with 45 being newly staffed, and retail units being added at 243 stations. Arriva is also promising other improvements to information, CCTV and waiting areas. Video help points will be introduced at 447 stations and information screens at more than 160 additional locations. Fares will be more 'understandable', while 'advance' tickets will be available on the day of travel until 15 minutes before departure.
Both operators are promising widespread WiFi on trains and stations, and the progressive introduction of smart ticketing.
The awards are now subject to the usual ten-day standstill period before the contracts can be signed.