Yorkshire base for Northern and TransPennine rail franchises
LEEDS is to become the home of Rail North Ltd. the body which supports economic growth in the North through the development of rail.
The new Northern and TransPennine Express franchises, which fall under Rail North’s jurisdiction and are set to start in 2016, will be managed by a team based in Leeds under a formal Partnership between Rail North and the Department for Transport.
The West Yorkshire Combined Authority approved the plans that will see it take on administrative support for Rail North, which represents 29 Local Transport Authorities in the north of England.
The implementation of the government’s rail strategy included a commitment from the Department for Transport to run the franchises from the north rather than Whitehall.
For Rail North, that means a team to administer the franchise agreements and work with DfT through a new Partnership Agreement.
WYCA chairman, councillor Peter Box said: “Leeds at the heart of Northern and TransPennine Express’s rail routes so it makes sense for Rail North, with its key role in shaping the North’s train services, to be located here.
“Through Rail North, councils across the North of England have already had an influential role in shaping the future of our train services.”
There will be a Strategic Board, comprising senior officers from Rail North’s partner authorities and DfT, with an independent chairperson.
This Board will oversee a joint Rail North/DfT Management Team which will manage the franchises.
Among the minimum requirements for the new franchisees are new Sunday services, additional services in the morning and evening peak, train refurbishment and the withdrawal of all Pacer units by 2020.
Bids to run the two franchises are expected to be returned in mid-2015 and the preferred bidders announced by the end of the year, by which time Rail North is expected to be fully established.
