TPE not getting franchise extension?

[Pumbaa]

I asked a few questions last week; more staff seem to be of the opinion that fTPE will not be getting the franchise extension. As for Northern, I'm still nonethewiser.

 

[tbtc]

Given the various announcements on electrification in the North West, I suspect there may well be a re-drawing of the franchise map around the Manchester area in the next few years.

I think you're right there.

If the Manchester Airport - Blackpool/ Edinburgh/ Glasgow services are to be electrified, it probably makes more sense to integrate them with things like Manchester Airport - Liverpool and Liverpool - Blackpool (which are Northern services that would also be EMU run) - that's assuming future service provision is the same as existing services of course. Manchester Airport - Barrow may well get chopped (replaced by an hourly Manchester Airport - Lancaster - Glasgow/ Edinburgh service, and running a full hourly DMU service from Carlisle down the coast through Barrow to Lancaster - just an example. There'll certainly be a lot of changes to be made, and (regardless of who gets the Transpennine franchise) I doubt Transpennine will look the same in a few years time

 

[Crossover]

I didn't realise the franchise ran out so soon.
I don't think TPE do a particularly bad job although many of the trains I get from Picadilly are a few minutes late by the time they get to Huddersfield - they seem to get held up and run slow round Guide Bridge and lose a little time.
Saying that it isn't something which causes a huge problem and they generally catch up between Leeds and York due to the slack in the timetable and going to Manchester I have rarely known them be late.
The only criticism I have is lack of luggage space which often leads me to have to put my case by a door which isn;t the most secure - this is why I have tended to aim recently for the bit between the cab and 1st class as it is quiet and more spacious and you can keep your luggage with you.

 

[The 158 Man]

I'd be a bit disappointed to see the back of TPE so soon.

The only criticism I'd have is sometimes the trains are really overcrowded, but as someone else pointed out this isn't TPE's fault. :-x