Northern franchise improvements

Middlesbrough to Newcastle

The benefits are:

• there will be a half-hourly service between Middlesbrough, Stockton and Newcastle, providing 30 trains per day in each direction. The current service is generally hourly
• at least 10 services per day will be Northern Connect services, operated by fully-refurbished, air conditioned Class 158 trains
• today’s service levels will be preserved at intermediate stations, but with earlier first trains and later last trains along the route

Newcastle to Carlisle

The benefits are:

• half-hourly service between Newcastle and Carlisle, providing 28 trains per day in each direction – 13 more than now. Some services will be faster than today, at around 80 minutes
• a minimum of 10 services each way will operate as “Northern Connect” services, operated by fully refurbished trains
• that Carlisle will receive at least two arrivals from Newcastle before 09:00, providing more choice and capacity for those travelling to work in Carlisle. Currently only one service arrives before 09:00
• the MetroCentre will have 42 trains per day to and from Newcastle, 30 trains per day to and from Hexham, 28 trains per day to and from Carlisle, and at least 12 trains per day to and from each of Sunderland and Morpeth
• that MetroCentre and Hexham will become Northern Connect stations, open from 6am until 10pm with free Wi-Fi and refreshments available for purchase

Bishop Auckland to Darlington and Middlesbrough

The benefits are:

• there will be a full hourly service between Bishop Auckland and Darlington, giving 15 trains per day in each direction – 5 more than today. At least 13 of these will operate as through services to/from Middlesbrough
• all services will call at intermediate stations (North Road, Heighington, Newton Aycliffe and Shildon)
• improved service frequency in the evenings, with two additional services per day arriving in Middlesbrough from Darlington after 19:00. These additional services will call at intermediate stations (Thornaby, Eaglescliffe, Allens West and Dinsdale)

Middlesbrough to Saltburn

The benefits are:

• there will be an improved service frequency in the evenings, with two additional services per day leaving Middlesbrough after 19:00
• additional services will call at intermediate stations (South Bank, Redcar Central, Redcar East, Longbeck and Marske)
• there will be more seats on refurbished trains, as all Pacers are withdrawn

Middlesbrough to Whitby

The benefits are:

• an additional morning service will be provided from Whitby, to arrive in Middlesbrough by 08:30. At present the first arrival in Middlesbrough is too late to be useful for commuters. This will benefit all intermediate stations between Whitby and Nunthorpe. The franchisee will also work with the local community to explore the scope to provide a new evening service from Middlesbrough to Whitby
• as part of the planning approval for a substantial new potash mine in the area, the developer is required to fund infrastructure enhancements that will enable an increase in service frequency between Middlesbrough and Whitby

Hull to Scarborough

There will be additional services to provide:

• a full hourly service between Hull and Scarborough (at least 5 more trains per day)
• at least 4 more services per day between Hull and Bridlington

Scarborough to York

A new Northern service will be introduced between Scarborough and York. This will provide an hourly service (14 trains per day), in addition to TransPennine Express's existing hourly service.

Leeds to Bridlington

A new direct link will be provided from Bridlington, Beverley to Leeds via Selby and Hull. This will provide a minimum of 12 trains per day each way, in addition to TransPennine Express’s Hull-Leeds-Manchester services.

Hull to York

Additional services will provide a full hourly service, giving 17 trains per day each way. The current service is irregular, with 10 trains per day one way and 11 the other.

Hull to Sheffield

The benefits are:

• this route will become part of the Northern Connect network, with at least 13 trains per day each way operated by brand new diesel trains (out of a total of 17). Key intermediate stations including Brough and Goole will also benefit
• between the morning and evening peak times, one service per hour in each direction trains will extend to Dronfield and Chesterfield

Leeds to York via Harrogate

The benefits are:

• there will be 4 trains per hour each way between Leeds, Horsforth and Harrogate from 7am to 7pm. Evening services will also be enhanced
• some of these services may be provided by Virgin Trains East Coast’s services, but Northern will operate a minimum of 50 trains per day in addition to Virgin’s proposed 6 each way. The current Northern service is a maximum of 35 trains per day
• the additional Northern services are not required to call at all intermediate stations, providing an opportunity for faster journeys between Leeds and Harrogate
• an additional late-evening service from Leeds to Knaresborough will be extended to York, providing a later journey from Leeds, Harrogate and Knaresborough to Cattal, Hammerton, Poppleton and York

Leeds and Bradford to Skipton and Ilkley

The benefits are:

• brand-new electric trains, operating in formations of six carriages on the busiest services (the longest trains at present have only four), will offer more seats
• there will be an improved service frequency in the evenings, with two additional evening services from Leeds to each of Ilkley and Skipton
• new stations at Kirkstall Forge and Apperley Bridge will receive 1 train per hour and 2 trains per hour respectively

Leeds to Lancaster

The benefits are:

• there will be seven trains per day in each direction between Leeds and Lancaster, up from 4 trains westbound and 5 trains eastbound today. This will benefit all intermediate stations between Lancaster and Skipton
• one arrival at Leeds will be no later than 08:45, and one departure from Leeds will be between 17:00 and 17:59, to suit commuters. One train will depart from Leeds in the evening (no earlier than 19:15, compared with a last train at 16:45 today)
• Lancaster will similarly have an arrival between 08:00 and 09:00, and a departure between 17:00 and 17:59

Sundays

Leeds to Lancaster will be 5 trains per day, up from 4 today.

Leeds to Carlisle

The benefits are:

• an additional service will be provided in each direction
• two departures from Leeds between 1600 and 1900 in place of one today, addressing an important priority for users of the Settle & Carlisle line

Leeds to Doncaster

Existing electric trains will be replaced by more modern ones and/or new trains. This will also benefit the intermediate stations along the route.

Leeds to Nottingham

The benefits are:

• this route will become part of the Northern Connect network, with at least 10 trains per day each way operated by brand-new diesel trains
• services will be re-routed to run via Wakefield Westgate instead of via Barnsley, allowing journey times to be reduced to 1h40 or less. They will also call at the new station at Ilkeston
• this route will be extended to Bradford Interchange, providing new direct links between Bradford and Wakefield, Sheffield, Chesterfield and Nottingham
• existing service frequencies between Leeds and Sheffield via Barnsley will be maintained
• the new operator will seek to provide half-hourly services at Elsecar, which currently receives only an hourly service for most of the day

Sheffield to Huddersfield

There will be more seats on refurbished trains at busier times, as all Pacers are withdrawn.

Lincoln to Sheffield

The benefits are:

• Lincoln-Sheffield will become part of the Northern Connect network, operated by new trains, with a minimum of 10 trains per day in each direction running through to Meadowhall, Barnsley, Wakefield and Leeds
• typical journey times Lincoln-Sheffield will be no more than 75 minutes, compared to 80-85 minutes today
• Gainsborough, Retford and Worksop will benefit from faster journeys
• off-peak frequency between Sheffield, Worksop and Retford will increase to 2 train per hour, as it already is at peak time

Knottingley and Pontefract to Leeds

Existing Knottingley-Wakefield services will be extended through to Leeds. This will mean:

• Knottingley and Pontefract Monkhill will have 2 trains per hour to Leeds, up from 1 today
• Pontefract Tanshelf, Featherstone and Streethouse will have a new direct service to Leeds (1 train per hour)

Bradford to Manchester Airport and Liverpool

The benefits are:

• additional services will be introduced between Bradford and Manchester, providing 3 trains per hour for most of the day, compared with 2 today
• the key intermediate stations - Halifax, Hebden Bridge and Todmorden - will benefit from additional services. Halifax will get an extra train every hour to and from Bradford and Leeds
• this route includes a significantly enhanced evening service – for example 12 departures from Manchester to Bradford after 7pm, compared with 5 today
• new hourly direct links will be provided from Bradford to Liverpool and Manchester Airport, served by brand-new diesel trains as part of the Northern Connect network
• Moston will see its half-hourly service restored

Manchester to Hadfield and Glossop

The current 3-car electric trains are likely to be replaced by fully refurbished 4-car electric trains by the end of 2017.These too will be replaced in 2020 by brand new electric trains, also with four carriages. They will be able to carry even more passengers than the refurbished trains.

Manchester to Sheffield

A full hourly service will be provided, giving 17 trains per day in each direction (6 more than today).

All intermediate stations will continue to receive a minimum of 11 trains per day each way.

Manchester Airport

Passengers travelling to/from Manchester Airport will benefit from:

• more services to the Airport arriving in the early morning, better reflecting the pattern of flight departures. A minimum of nine Northern services will leave central Manchester for the Airport before 07:00 in the morning
• more services from the Airport leaving in the late evening
• new trains and enhanced direct routes to and from Manchester Airport served by Northern Connect including to Bradford via Halifax, Barrow-in-Furness, Windermere and Warrington.

Manchester to Buxton

The benefits are:

• more frequent services between Manchester and New Mills New Town (2 trains per hour for most of the day) and Hazel Grove (with 4 trains per hour each way for much of the day)
• faster journeys between Buxton and Manchester – with a maximum journey time of 55 minutes on the fastest trains (a saving of between 7 and 10 minutes). This will also benefit intermediate stations: Disley, Furness Vale, Whaley Bridge, Chapel-en-le-Frith and New Mills New Town

Sundays

The frequency between Manchester and Hazel Grove will be improved to 2 trains per hour, every hour.

Manchester to Stoke-on-Trent

There will be a 2 trains per hour Northern service for most of the day between Macclesfield and Manchester, with 9 extra off peak services. This will also benefit Poynton, Bramhall and Cheadle Hulme.

Manchester to Chester via Northwich

There will be 2 trains per hour between Greenbank and Manchester, including off-peak. This will also benefit principal intermediate stations: Altrincham, Hale, Knutsford and Northwich.

Manchester to Wigan

Passengers to/from Wigan will benefit from 7 trains per hour to/from central Manchester for much of the day, consisting of:

• 4 trains per hour via Atherton (up from 2 off-peak and 3-4 in the peak)
• 2 trains per hour via Bolton (to be served by electric trains once the route is electrified)
• 1 fast Northern Connect service train per hour to/from Manchester Oxford Road, Piccadilly and the Airport (replacing the TransPennine Express service which currently operates on this route, but which will revert to operating via Bolton from December 2017)

Southport to Leeds/Bradford

One of the current Southport services each hour to Manchester will be extended to provide a direct link either to Leeds or Bradford (or both). All Pacers will be withdrawn, to be replaced with fully refurbished trains.

Manchester to Preston

The benefits are:

• passengers travelling to and from Bolton will benefit from 7 trains per hour to and from central Manchester for much of the day (and 8 at the busiest times)
• the current diesel trains will be lengthened on some routes and replaced by longer electric trains on others, as the relevant routes are electrified. These electric trains will be a mix of new and fully-refurbished trains

Manchester to Blackburn

Blackburn will receive 2 trains per hour to central Manchester via Bolton, increasing the off-peak provision. This will also benefit Darwen, Bromley Cross and Hall i’ th’ Wood.

Liverpool to Manchester via Warrington Central

TransPennine Express services on this route will instead be operated by Northern from December 2017. At that point, the TransPennine Express service will be diverted to operate between Liverpool and Manchester via Newton-le-Willows. This service pattern change will allow a regular, fast, half-hourly TransPennine Express service between Liverpool and Manchester (and on to Leeds).

Current service levels at Warrington Central will be maintained, with Northern running a fast Northern Connect service between Liverpool, Warrington Central, Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Airport, to be operated by new trains.

Further changes to benefit Warrington include:

• direct services to Manchester Airport
• an additional hourly “Northern Connect” service between Chester, Warrington Bank Quay, Manchester Victoria and Leeds (via the Calder Valley), to be operated by new diesel trains
• Northern services operating between Warrington Central and Liverpool calling at the new station at Warrington West

Chester to Leeds

The new Northern franchisee will introduce an hourly Northern Connect service between Chester and Manchester (via Warrington Bank Quay, Earlestown and Newton-le-Willows). This will operate alongside an existing Arriva Trains Wales, which currently operates 1 train per hour off-peak and 2 trains per hour in the peak.

This will be operated by brand new diesel trains, and will run through to Leeds via Manchester Victoria and the Calder Valley.

Liverpool to Manchester via Newton-le-Willows

The TransPennine Express service on this route will increase from 1 train per hour to 2 trains per hour, providing a regular, fast, half-hourly service from Liverpool to Manchester, Leeds and beyond.

Northern will continue to run 2 trains per hour on this route, the existing direct between Liverpool and Manchester Airport and a new direct link to Manchester Victoria and on to Bradford via the Calder Valley.

Liverpool to Blackpool

Once the route is electrified between Preston and Blackpool North, an hourly direct service will be restored between Liverpool and Blackpool using electric trains

Preston to Ormskirk

Ormskirk will receive a full hourly service to/from Preston, with a minimum of 17 trains per day in each direction, 4 more than now.

Blackpool to York, Manchester and Liverpool

TransPennine Express services to/from Blackpool North will be operated instead by Northern from the start of the new franchise. Blackpool North will receive 4 trains per hour for most of the day (as now), including:

• 1 Northern Connect service per hour to/from Preston, Leeds and York, to be operated by new diesel trains
• 1 Northern Connect service between Blackpool North and Manchester Airport, operated by new electric trains following electrification of the line
• a further 1 train per hour to central Manchester, also to be operated by electric trains
• 1 train per hour to Preston, Wigan and Liverpool, again operated by electric trains once electrification is complete

Colne to Preston

Barrow-in-Furness to Manchester Airport

The benefits are:

• TransPennine Express services to and from Barrow-in-Furness will be operated instead by Northern from the start of the new franchise
• a minimum of 8 trains per day in each direction between Barrow-in-Furness and Manchester Airport (double the frequency today). These will be Northern Connect services, operated by new diesel trains
• further services will operate between Barrow-in-Furness and Lancaster, providing a total of 21 trains per day each way between those stations (compared to between 18 and 20 today, depending on direction). As now, most of those Barrow-Lancaster services will continue to Preston

Windermere to Manchester Airport

The benefits are:

• TransPennine Express services to/from Windermere will be operated instead by Northern from the start of the new franchise
• a minimum of 4 trains per day in each direction between Windermere and Manchester Airport (compared to no more than 2 today). These will be “Northern Connect” services, operated by new electric trains (once the Windermere branch has been electrified and sufficient new trains delivered)
• today’s level of service between Windermere and Oxenholme will also be maintained, again to be operated by electric trains once electrified.

Barrow-in-Furness to Carlisle

The benefits are:

• up to 6 extra services will be provided per day to stations on the Cumbria Coast route between Barrow-in-Furness and Carlisle, with more capacity on the busiest services and the timetable better suited to employees at Sellafield and Whitehaven
• Sunday services from Carlisle to Whitehaven will be extended to Barrow-in-Furness and frequency enhanced, providing a Sunday service on the full length of the Cumbria Coast route
• the locomotive-hauled carriages used on the Coast will be refurbished.