by Henryk Zientek, Huddersfield Daily Examiner
Feb 22 2011
A RAIL firm running services through Huddersfield has been named Train Operator of the Year.
Northern Rail, which operates services from Huddersfield to Barnsley, Sheffield, Halifax, Bradford and Wakefield and stopping trains to Manchester and Leeds was praised by judges for improving punctuality, reliability and customer service.
The improvements helped Northern Rail secure a two-year extension to its franchise, meaning it will run until at least September, 2013.
Judges said that Northern’s joint owners – Serco and Abelio – had been required to invest £250,000 a year as part of their franchise agreement, but that so far they had invested £25m and had attracted £80m from outside sources.
Northern Rail was also highly commended in the Rail Business Awards in London.
Northern Rail is the UK’s biggest train operator.
END
Readers might wish to note that SMART has written to the Secretary of State for Transport requesting her to take note of the lack of accountability of train operating companies (TOC’s) such as Northern when deciding on the new 22.5 year franchises she is considering. SMART has suggested that another 25 years of the poor quality of Northern might be more than local people could bear.
TB
Editor