David Davis welcomes plans for better trains and more frequent services on Northern Rail frachise

The Secretary of State for Transport has today published Invitations to Tender for the next Northern and TransPennine Express rail franchises. The proposals call for capacity to be increased across the network and for all trains to be equipped with Wi-Fi.

In response to the news Sir David Davis said:

“This is excellent news for the whole Humber region. For too long have the railways in the North been ignored and there has been minimal investment across the network since 2004 when the Northern rail franchise was last put out to tender. This means that the trains operating across the north, especially those on Northern franchise rail lines, are not up to standard.

It is a positive step that the north will finally see the back of the widely unpopular Pacer trains. Many of these trains were built in the 1980’s and were only meant to be a short term solution. It is unacceptable that commuters in the North are expected to make do with such outdated and unfit transport.

The planned improvements to the network will allow for commuters to travel in greater comfort, will increase much-needed capacity across the network, and importantly will allow for people to continue to work and communicate while travelling.

This Government has done much to improve infrastructure in the region, and must continue to support the economy of the north through such long-term investment.”