Investment pledge as rail deal extended

THE operator of rail services across the north, First TransPennine Express, has pledged to invest in more seats and provide free WiFI at major stations as part of a deal to extend its contract by 12 months.

Department for Transport said Anglo-French group First TransPennine Express would operate the service until April 2016, ahead of the start of a new long-term franchise beginning that year.

As part of the extension, First TransPennine Express will  introduce free Wi-Fi at all major TransPennine stations; improve the reliability of existing trains;  continue to provide 700 additional seats between York and Liverpool every day implemented in December 2014, along with further increases in capacity from May this year; invest in new customer information facilities at key stations; and deliver a programme of customer service training for staff.

Rail Minister Claire Perry said: “We have ambitious plans for rail across the north of England, with more than £1bn being invested in the region’s railways. We have set out how we will transform rail services across the north over the next few years, but we are determined that passengers shouldn’t have to wait to see much-needed improvements.
 
“This agreement with First TransPennine Express will make a real difference to passengers, paving the way for the next franchise to further develop a railway the north of England is proud of.”

Last month, the government set out the improvements it expects the next operator of the TransPennine Express franchise to deliver, through publication of the Invitations to Tender. This includes providing extra capacity through more carriages, increased frequencies or more services, additional Sunday services and introducing free Wi-Fi on all trains by 2020.

Three operators have been shortlisted to run the next franchise. First TransPennine Express; Keolis Go-Ahead Limited; and Stagecoach TransPennine Express Trains