Transport for the North holds a critical role in both making the case for investment in our rail network and overseeing the delivery of services.
We must redress decades of underinvestment in order to ensure our rail network can support the North’s ambitious growth plans and deliver the rail service that passengers and businesses should be able to rely on.
The Covid-19 crisis has significantly changed the operating environment for rail services, with emergency timetables introduced and passenger numbers significantly reduced.
Transport for the North is playing a key role by working with partner authorities to shape the industry response. The Rail North Partnership is managing the operator response and coordinating with the national plan through the Department for Transport.
Rail will play a key role in the sustainable economic recovery of the North post-Covid-19. When it is safe to do so, passengers in the North will return to the rail network to travel to work and for leisure.
They will want to be able to rely on the rail service in our region, and for trains to be clean and not overcrowded. In order to achieve this, we need to see greater accountability delivering more reliable performance, and more investment in rail in the North delivered more intelligently and cost-effectively.
Our Long Term Rail StrategyWe will continue to work with the industry to focus on meeting the needs of passengers. We are working with the Department for Transport, Network Rail and other partners to ensure the work is completed to improve rolling stock, track upgrades are carried out and journey times are reduced.
This also means supporting those organisations and operators during periods of consultation on how to enhance services across the region.
It’s crucial rail users have a say on how services are delivered to best meet their needs for years to come.
Our Community Rail User Stakeholder Event brought together partners from across the sector to explore lessons learned from the pandemic and discuss how the industry can better work together in 2022.
Read moreA major assessment of rail infrastructure and services running through Manchester is currently underway alongside a two-phase public consultation exercise aimed at helping determine how reliable rail services can be retained pending the delivery of substantial infrastructure improvements.’
The Manchester Recovery Task Force, which uniquely involves a number of partners including the Department for Transport, Transport for the North and the Rail Industry, has been leading the work which aims to tackle the issues and challenges of one of the UK’s most notorious rail congestion hotspots.
Transport for the North is working to secure a clear and comprehensive investment plan for the area in order to future-proof reliable rail services and secure a robust route through to rail recovery post-pandemic
“Passengers need a better deal when it comes to reliability. When they return to the North’s trains, they need to step onto services with confidence.
“Manchester’s congested rail network has long been the source of delays and frustration for passengers, with knock-on effects for the North’s communities.”
CLOSE POPUP [X]