History
In 2000 the Strategic Rail Authority announced that it planned to reorganise the North West Regional Railways and Regional Railways North East franchises operated by First North Western and Arriva Trains Northern. A TransPennine Express franchise would be created for the long distance regional services with the remaining services to be operated by a new Northern franchise.
On 1 July 2004 the Strategic Rail Authority awarded the franchise to Serco-NedRailways beating FirstGroup. The franchise was awarded for six years and nine months with a two-year extension subject to performance targets being achieved.
Serco-NedRailways' bid had assumed that some Class 142 Pacers trains would be released imminently when Manchester Metrolink services started between Manchester and Oldham. Due to a substantial delay in extending the Metrolink, it became clear that this was not going to be the case. As a result the contract signing was delayed with the services operated by First North Western and Arriva Trains Northern not transferring to Northern until 12 December 2004.
In May 2010 the Department for Transport confirmed that Northern had met the performance targets and the franchise was extended for two years until September 2013. In May 2012 the Department for Transport granted Northern a six month extension until 31 March 2014.
Read more about this topic: Northern Rail
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