Northern and TPE to join forces

[Hoodedclaw545]

I travel on the TPE south route from time to time and there seems to be alot of talk about Northern rail and TPE joining forces in 2013 any truth? Cos the south route seems to run pretty much on time compared to northern rails Nottingham service which is shocking.

 

[strange6]

I travel on the TPE south route from time to time and there seems to be alot of talk about Northern rail and TPE joining forces in 2013 any truth? Cos the south route seems to run pretty much on time compared to northern rails Nottingham service which is shocking.

That will be the arrangement of using TPE stock to come and and tow away Northern's frequently breaking vehicles

 

[Anvil1984]

Simple answer is that it is all rumours until the franchise tenders are put out probaly mid to late next year

 

[swt_passenger]

Simple answer is that it is all rumours until the franchise tenders are put out probaly mid to late next year

It's a stronger rumour since it appeared in print in the McNulty report - but as you say that's still all it is...

 

[tbtc]

It's a stronger rumour since it appeared in print in the McNulty report - but as you say that's still all it is...

I think it appeared in the McNulty report more than "British Rail" appeared, but then that's not saying much...

Seriously though, there have been rumours about them joining up ever since they were split. However, I think that the electrification in Lancashire will have a bearing on things.

As Anvil1984 says, its all rumour until we know more, and he knows more than I do.

 

[sprinterguy]

That will be the arrangement of using TPE stock to come and and tow away Northern's frequently breaking vehicles

That arrangement won't work for long given they have completely different couplers! (Barring TPEs' 170s and emergency coupling adapters)

As the others have said, it's all just rumours at the moment, and a process that would require some serious tinkering with the Transpennine franchise finish dates, as Northern runs until 11 September 2013 but the TPE franchise would finish on January 31st 2012 (So obviously that's not going to happen, or the tender would be out already) if it was not granted a five year extension until January 31st 2017.

 

[tbtc]

As the others have said, it's all just rumours at the moment, and a process that would require some serious tinkering with the Transpennine franchise finish dates, as Northern runs until 11 September 2013 but the TPE franchise would finish on January 31st 2012 (So obviously that's not going to happen, or the tender would be out already) if it was not granted a five year extension until January 31st 2017.

I guess, to make a broader point, the Government don't seem to have decided how they want franchises to go (none have been awarded recently, but there's been a bit of deferring and putting off making hard decisions).

Whilst I'm more "red" than "blue" (politically), I think the Tories have had some good rail policies in the past. I'm waiting to see the kind of franchises they give out to decide whether I have faith in them (e.g. if there's a repeat of the "no growth" franchises for Northern and ATW then I fear for provincial operations across England and Wales, if there's the "carrot" of electrification in franchises like putting Crewe - Chester in the West Coast one then I'm encouraged about the future).

Which way will they jump...

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Nothing like a good rumour to get an active thread going on RF.

 

[lancastrian]

Nothing like a good rumour to get an active thread going on RF.

And this is nothing like a good rumour!!!!

However, Trans-Pennine should be kept as a seperate francise, But expanded to include the following routes:

• M/Cr Airport - Huddersfield - Leeds - York - Scarborough
• Liverpool - M/Cr - Huddersfield - Leeds - York - Newcastle/Middlesbrough
• M/Cr Airport - Preston - Carlisle - Glasgow/Edinburgh
• Loverpool - Warrington - M/Cr - Sheffield - Doncaster - Hull/Cleethropes
• Blackpool - Preston - Burnley - Halifax - Bradford - Leeds - Hull
• Blackpool - Preston - Burnley - Brighouse - Wakefield - York - Scarborough
• Liverpool - M/Cr - Sheffield - Derby - Nottingham
• Nottinham - Derby - Sheffield - Leeds - Carlisle - Kilmarnock - Glasgow
• M/Cr - Bolton - Clitheroe - Hellifiled - Carlisle
• M/Cr Airport - Preston - Lancaster - Barrow/Windermere
• Llandudno - Chester - Warrington - M/Cr - Leeds - York

I am sure that this will cause some discussion!:roll:

 

[185]

Northern are going to become a force of Evil?

OMGZ!

Northern's new uniform choice....
a. http://www.gigaweb.com/files/productsimages/BS_C/40858.jpg
b. http://www.toptenz.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/ku-klux-klan.jpg

 

[strange6]

That arrangement won't work for long given they have completely different couplers! (Barring TPEs' 170s and emergency coupling adapters)

I wondered how long somebody would come out with that comment! lol Just like XCdriver, I don't take life too seriously and I am prone to making 'tongue-in-cheek' comments now and again!

But the proof of the pudding is in the eating as they say, and at this very moment, yet another Northern train has broke down at Farnworth causing disruption between Salford and Bolton! hahaha

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

However, Trans-Pennine should be kept as a seperate francise, But expanded to include the following routes:

• Loverpool - Warrington - M/Cr - Sheffield - Doncaster - Hull/Cleethropes
  

I am sure that this will cause some discussion!:roll:

I am sure it will.....Where on the railway map is LOVERPOOL???