TRAINS: Flying Without Wings!
Some highlights stemming from the award of the forthcoming new franchises for the Transpennine and Northern networks, announced today.
FIRST TRANSPENNINE: (no longer in partnership with Keolis)
- Direct services from Manchester Airport to Newcastle-upon-Tyne to be reinstated.
- Two extra trains per day Manchester Airport to Middlesbrough
- New fleet of 125mph trains. Enhanced Sunday services.
- Manchester Airport Station refurbishment and improvements
ARRIVA NORTHERN:
- Some Manchester Airport routes switch from Transpennine to the Northern franchise
- New hourly service Manchester Airport - Bradford via the Calder Valley line. This can only commence after the opening of the Ordsall Chord. New diesel stock will operate Manchester Airport - Manchester Piccadilly - Manchester Victoria - Rochdale - Todmorden - Hebden Bridge - Halifax - Bradford
- Two trains per hour Manchester Airport - Liverpool, one operating via Warrington Central (new) the other via Newton-le-Willows
- Manchester Airport to Barrow-in-Furness services more than double to at least eight services daily, good Sunday frequency too
- Manchester Airport to Windermere doubles from two to at least four services per day, Sunday services too
- At least NINE Arriva Northern services will depart Piccadilly for Manchester Airport before 07:00 each weekday; more late evening trains also
- Re-fleeting with new trains and additional second-hand Class 319 stock
There is lots more detail available elsewhere, but I'm concentrating on the implications for Manchester Airport here for obvious reasons. All seems very positive.