ATOC Press Office

Passenger Franchise Information

Northern Rail

Franchise Start Date: 12th December 2004
Franchise End Date: 11th September 2013

Passenger Journeys, 2006 - 07: 76.3 million
Passenger kilometres, 2006 - 07: 1,765.8 million
Train kilometres, 2006 - 07: 47.0 million

northern
Principal Routes
Northern Rail has an extensive route network, operating services in the following counties:
  • Cumbria
  • Lancashire
  • Merseyside
  • Greater Manchester
  • Cheshire
  • Staffordshire
  • Derbyshire
  • South Yorkshire
  • Lincolnshire
  • West Yorkshire
  • East Riding of Yorkshire
  • North Yorkshire
  • Cleveland
  • Durham
  • Tyne & Wear
  • Northumberland
Overview
Northern Rail is a joint venture between Serco Group and NedRailways. NedRailways is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dutch Railways (NS).

When the franchise commenced in December 2004, it took over the majority of services that had previously been operated by First North Western and Arriva Trains Northern. The longer-distance services of these two operators had, in February 2004, been transferred to TransPennine Express.

Northern Rail operates services in five out of six of the English PTEs (Merseyside, Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire and Tyne & Wear) and works closely with each PTE in developing and operating services.
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