Government decision on Northern Rail

Northern passengers to see real and tangible improvements across the network as soon as possible.

Concourse at Manchester Piccadilly railway station.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has announced that, from 1 March 2020, the government will take over running services on the Northern network.

The government recognises that the rail network in the north has fallen far short of delivering the service passengers need and deserve.

This comes after the Transport Secretary announced on 9 January that the Northern franchise was no longer financially sustainable and would only be able to continue for a small number of months.

This is a new beginning for Northern, but it is only a beginning.

Northern’s network is huge and complex and some of the things which are wrong are not going to be quick or easy to put right. But I am determined that Northern passengers see real and tangible improvements across the network as soon as possible.

The railways were invented in the north. Last year the Prime Minister promised that we would give the railway back to the places it was born, giving more power over services, fares, and stations to local leaders.

Today (29 January 2020) marks the first small step towards the north taking back control of its railways and its people taking back control of their travelling lives.

There will be no more leaving behind. This government is committed to levelling-up.

The government is committed to delivering real and tangible improvements across the network as quickly as possible, and will introduce a series of measures including;