Press Release

NORTHERN WAY WELCOMES EXTRA CAPACITY ON KEY RAIL ROUTES

31 January 2008

The Northern Way today welcomed the Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly’s announcement that brand new extra carriages will be running on some of the network’s busiest routes.
 
The Department for Transport yesterday (Wednesday 30th January) published its Rolling Stock Plan, announcing extra carriages on key northern routes.
 
This means that, for the first time, new rolling stock will be delivered on the Northern franchise, with an extra 182 new carriages being added to these routes. Additional capacity will also be made available on the busy Trans-Pennine Express routes, with an extra 42 carriages helping to reduce congestion for commuter, business and other travel.
 
John Jarvis, Transport Director of the Northern Way, said: “We very much welcome this announcement – it is an important step forward in improving rail transport in the North.
 
“Additional capacity for Trans-Pennine Express is a recognition of the economic success of the North’s major cities and the rapid growth in business, commuter and leisure travel that has taken place on routes linking the North’s major cities together since new trains were first introduced two years ago.
 
“Importantly Ruth Kelly’s announcement now sees brand new additional vehicles for the first time for the Northern franchise as well. This will help provide important new capacity for more people to travel by rail on commuter corridors served by this franchise.
 
“The Northern Way has long since made the case for additional rolling stock on key northern routes and we are delighted that this has been recognised – but this is not the end of the story. We will continue to make the case for growth in the capacity of the rail network that recognises the needs of the economy of the North.”