Northern Rail beats performance targets

Rochdale’s train operator has been given a two-year extension to its franchise after beating performance targets for its 2,500 daily train services across the north of England.

Northern Rail, which carries 85 million passengers a year — up 34 per cent on when the franchise began in December, 2004 — will now run the franchise until September, 2013.

The operator was hit by a row about overcrowding after the Rochdale/Oldham loop-line was closed for conversion to Metrolink. Passengers were left behind when they could not get on to rush-hour trains.

The Department for Transport insisted it would ship out five Pacer trains from the loop to other parts of the country.

The situation was eased when Greater Manchester Integrated Transport Authority paid the Government to keep some of the units to strengthen rush-hour trains through Rochdale. The DfT later agreed to let them stay.

The joint venture of Serco and Abellio has improved the punctuality of its train services from 83.7 per cent at the start of the franchise to 91.6 per cent in the last 12 months — meaning that on average 200 more trains arrive on time every day now than in 2004. Ian Bevan, managing director of Northern Rail, said: “We are delighted that the improvements we have made to the punctuality and reliability of our services have been recognised.

“We’ve worked hard to turn this franchise from the ‘steady state’ it was predicted to be into the thriving railway that it is today.

“As well as improving performance we’ve invested over £100 million with our partners to provide more and newer trains and improve facilities at stations. We look forward to delivering even more for our passengers over the next three years.”