Demonstrating the government’s commitment to rebuild
passenger confidence and put their priorities first,
the government operator has launched a new panel to
provide ongoing advice on how services will be run.
Political leaders including from Manchester and
from Leeds will
be joined by regional leaders, passenger
representatives and industry leaders on the panel,
which will be led by Richard George, the chairman of
the operator.
The government has also announced that overcrowding on
Northern’s network will be a priority focus for
improvement, with new technology being trialled to
identify crowding pinch points. Work is underway to
extend platforms at 30 stations across the network to
allow for longer trains and improve journeys for
passengers.
Capacity will be further boosted with the roll-out of
more electric trains across the network next year, in
addition to the extra capacity already being delivered
by the new fleet. A major deep cleaning program has
also commenced today, along with an overhaul of
on-board cleanliness, to make sure carriages meet the
high standards passengers deserve.
Transport Secretary said:
This is new era for rail in the North, but there will
be no quick fix for the network as we build solutions
for the future.
Today marks the beginning of rebuilding of trust in
these services, and voices from the region will be
essential as we work together to understand and
deliver the improvements passengers need.
Our aim is to give the North of England more powers
over their railways, restoring the confidence of
passengers and delivering a network they can truly
rely on.
Chairman of the government’s operator, Richard George
said:
The panel announced today will play a crucial
strategic role as we look to transform services
across Northern’s network, putting the needs of
passengers first.
By collaborating with local leaders, we’re taking a
step towards reconnecting the railways with the
people of the North. We need to improve performance
and also provide passengers and their elected
representatives with the confidence that their
concerns are being addressed.
The Transport Secretary has tasked the operator with
delivering a new vision for the North’s railways,
restoring confidence for passengers and delivering
tangible improvements, but has made clear that the
complexity of the challenge means transformation will
not take place overnight.
The leadership of the government operator will be using
the first 100 days running services to prepare an
ambitious plan, consulting with passengers and leaders
across the North to understand their priorities, and
leaving no stone unturned in their efforts to improve
the service for passengers.
