By 2020 the network will be unrecognisable, says Northern Rail boss
Alex Hynes has been managing director of Northern Rail since August 2013 and is now preparing to take up a new role as managing director of Arriva Rail North Limited which will take over the Northern franchise in April.
“A BBC commissioned survey of over 1,000 adults in the north of England suggested that 44% of respondents had never heard of the Northern Powerhouse and while 20% had heard of it, they didn’t know anything about it.
“Whether the public have heard of the Northern Powerhouse or not there is clear support for the initiatives it will deliver, with 82% wanting politicians in the north, not their Westminster counterparts, to control transport and health services in the region. Key to success will be linking this support of policy with the tangible benefits the Northern Powerhouse will deliver making it a reality for all those who live and work in the region.
“As a train operator serving customers across the north of England the concept of a Northern Powerhouse of jobs, investment and prosperity is close to our hearts. Rail has the potential to be an economic and social enabler that will help drive the regional economy, in contrast to its current struggle to keep up with demand.
“At Northern Rail we can already see the benefits the Northern Powerhouse will bring. Decision-making is being devolved to the newly established bodies of Rail North and Transport for the North, and the recent announcement of the award of the next Northern franchise confirmed over £1bn investment into rail services over the next 10 years. This is a stark contrast to eleven years ago when the current Northern franchise was let on the basis of no growth and no investment. It was commonly referred to as ‘steady-state’.
“The reality proved to be very different, but at the time the national body responsible for rail franchises did not predict any growth in passenger numbers; in fact they commissioned an independent review to ensure Northern was delivering value for money, given the high level of subsidy. In the early months of the franchise the talk was about potential cuts to services not growth. However, the review found the franchise was running efficiently and since those early days our customer numbers have grown by nearly 50%.
“With no investment specified, we’ve worked closely with local authorities and other partners across the north to deliver improvements to stations, services and trains. It is this regional approach that will also serve well for the future.
“Alongside these improvements we’ve also managed to grow our fleet of trains, adding an additional 13% capacity this year alone. One of the big constraints of the current franchise is that we haven’t been able to grow our fleet to match demand; but, change is on the horizon.
“In March last year we named one of our trains ‘Northern Powerhouse’, signifying our vision of the future. Northern Powerhouse is an electric train operating between Manchester and Liverpool – a route that was electrified in March 2015 as part of a wider North West electrification scheme. Replacing the two-carriage diesel trains with four carriage electric trains gives our customers capacity where they need it most. For some customers it signifies a brand new service, they are even changing their travel patterns as they know they will be able to get a seat.
“This is only the beginning. The coordinated voice of local authorities, rail customers and others across the North means the next Northern franchise, which will begin on 1 April this year, is transformational, with brand new trains, pacer trains removed and 2,000 more services every week.
“By January 2020, the network will be unrecognisable from the one we run today.
“So, the north’s transport infrastructure is taking shape, and the creation of Rail North and Transport for the North to lead on this work from within the region is a vital step towards ensuring success – local decision making for local people. The Northern Powerhouse goes beyond transport.
“We must support development in skills, employment opportunities and industry. The North should be an attractive place to work, live, visit and invest. Devolution is placing decision making locally, at the heart of our people, but as a region we need to work together to make this a success.
“Northern’s vision is ‘a railway the North can be proud of’ and we believe the Northern Powerhouse has the potential to deliver that and more.”
Join Alex Hynes in a debate at the UK Northern Powerhouse International Conference & Exhibition at Manchester Central tomorrow.
Moderated by BBC broadcaster John Humphrys, the conference will include a host of speakers including keynote speaker Lord Jim O’Neill, Lord Prescott, Sarah Green, director of regions and nations at CBI, and Piers Linney, co-chief executive of Outsourcery PLC and former BBC TV Dragon`s Den star.
For more information or to book tickets to the UK Northern Powerhouse International Conference and Exhibition (25-26 February 2016) visit www.uk-northern-powerhouse.co.uk.
