{"id":23040,"date":"2020-01-02T11:58:38","date_gmt":"2020-01-02T11:58:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.railbusinessdaily.com\/?p=23040"},"modified":"2020-01-02T11:58:38","modified_gmt":"2020-01-02T11:58:38","slug":"northern-rail-to-be-stripped-of-franchise-says-grant-shapps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.railbusinessdaily.com\/northern-rail-to-be-stripped-of-franchise-says-grant-shapps\/","title":{"rendered":"“Northern Rail could be stripped of franchise”"},"content":{"rendered":"
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has told BBC Breakfast that there are plans to strip Northern Rail of its franchise and that more will be confirmed ‘very soon.’<\/p>\n
In the interview, Mr Shapps said: “It’s completely unacceptable to have a situation where trains almost routinely don’t run to a routine, don’t run on time.<\/p>\n
“I simply will not put up with that and I’ve already kicked off that process and I will be saying more about it very soon. I will absolutely bring that situation to an end.”<\/p>\n
When asked for clarification in that he would suggest, as Transport Secretary, that he would strip the franchise from Northern Rail, Mr Shapps said: “This is right. In the autumn, I wrote to the necessary parties in this with what is called a request for proposal – that’s simply where you say; look I’m going to take action. There are a couple of ways that can go – one is to strip the franchise, one is to have a short-term contract.<\/p>\n
“But yes, exactly as you’ve said, I’m simply not prepared for the service of Northern to carry on as it is and I am taking action.”<\/p>\n
Photo credit: Michael715 \/ Shutterstock.com<\/em><\/p>\n