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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Northern rail services rapped as 'unacceptable' | Northern rail services rapped as 'unacceptable' |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| The government has described Northern rail services as "unacceptable" as delays continue to plague its trains. | The government has described Northern rail services as "unacceptable" as delays continue to plague its trains. |
| Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said he is "not prepared" to tolerate the commuter line's poor performance. | Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said he is "not prepared" to tolerate the commuter line's poor performance. |
| In October, Mr Shapps said he had taken steps that could lead to the operator being stripped of its franchise. | In October, Mr Shapps said he had taken steps that could lead to the operator being stripped of its franchise. |
| Northern rail said the late delivery of big infrastructure projects had disrupted its services. | Northern rail said the late delivery of big infrastructure projects had disrupted its services. |
| The RMT union described the comments as a "distraction" to rail fare increases coming into effect from Thursday. | |
| Giving evidence to the Commons' Transport Select Committee last year, the transport secretary said that he had issued a "request for proposals" from the company and the Operator of Last Resort. | Giving evidence to the Commons' Transport Select Committee last year, the transport secretary said that he had issued a "request for proposals" from the company and the Operator of Last Resort. |
| This could lead to Northern rail's service being brought under government control. | This could lead to Northern rail's service being brought under government control. |
| The rail operator company has faced several issues in recent years, such as cancellations after the introduction of new timetables. | The rail operator company has faced several issues in recent years, such as cancellations after the introduction of new timetables. |
| David Brown, managing director at Northern, said the company had faced challenges outside of its control in recent years. | |
| One includes the late delivery of major infrastructure projects, such as the North West electrification, more than two years late. | One includes the late delivery of major infrastructure projects, such as the North West electrification, more than two years late. |
| Mr Brown added: "Arriva and Northern remain fully committed to delivering the transformation of the North's railways and improving customers' experience. We are delivering the biggest transformation of local rail for a generation." | Mr Brown added: "Arriva and Northern remain fully committed to delivering the transformation of the North's railways and improving customers' experience. We are delivering the biggest transformation of local rail for a generation." |
| The RMT union's general secretary Mike Cash also called the announcement a "distraction" from fare rises. | |
| He said: "If Grant Shapps was serious, he would set out a timetable for removing the Northern rail franchise from Arriva and their replacement with the public sector operator." | |
| Millions of commuters now have to pay an average of 2.7% more for train tickets, with some annual passes to increase by more than £100. | |
| What might happen to Northern? | |
| The process to decide whether Northern should be stripped of its franchise is still ongoing. | The process to decide whether Northern should be stripped of its franchise is still ongoing. |
| The BBC understands a decision is likely to come in "a matter of weeks". | The BBC understands a decision is likely to come in "a matter of weeks". |
| Broadly speaking, there are two options; | Broadly speaking, there are two options; |
| The situation has arisen because Northern is not meeting many of its obligations under the current franchise contract (longer trains, new services (particularly on Sunday) but performance is a big part of it and the Northern franchise was losing money for some time. | The situation has arisen because Northern is not meeting many of its obligations under the current franchise contract (longer trains, new services (particularly on Sunday) but performance is a big part of it and the Northern franchise was losing money for some time. |
| Northern recently insisted its passenger numbers are growing again after a period of decline following the 2018 timetable. | Northern recently insisted its passenger numbers are growing again after a period of decline following the 2018 timetable. |
| It's unclear whether the franchise is still making a loss today. | It's unclear whether the franchise is still making a loss today. |
| A senior rail source told the BBC that there is certainly a "ramping up of the language" on the issue. | A senior rail source told the BBC that there is certainly a "ramping up of the language" on the issue. |
| The Department for Transport confirmed that Mr Shapps had started the process that could strip Northern of its franchise. | |
| A review of UK railways is already taking place. | |
| It is being led by Keith Williams, the former boss of British Airways, and its findings are due to be published soon. |