Northern's100-day reviewreleasedby OLR
NORTHERhNasbeen undertakinga 100-dayreview of its business incebeing transferredinto publicownership on March1.
Thecompany'sfocusison "restoringa full and reliable train servicei,ncreasing capacityand deliveringthe manyenhancementsthat our passengerdseserve''.
Themajorreviewof the Northernfranchisewaspromised when the businesstransferred to the Operatorof LastResort on June8, althoughwider publicationis understoodto havebeenheld backbecauseof Covid-19andtreasuryfunding issuesa, ndthe needfor Network Railto respondto someof the infrastructurechallengescovered by the report.
Thereviewhasnot covered the backgroundoverwhy the ArrivaTrainsNorthfranchisewas terminated.
Speakingto TheRM,chairman of NorthernTrainsRobinGisby said:"Wewill reconcilewhat was in the Arrivafranchisebid,what's in the serviceagreementand what the committedobligations are,but this ismuchmoreabout lookingforward.
"Wewant to hold the performancegainswe'veseen in the lastfew weeks,basedon reducedcongestionand dwelltimes,andwe don't want to givethat all away- we want to be robustagain:'
Dfr OLRHoldingschairman RichardGeorgetold theTransport for the North Boardon June11: "TheCovid-19positionhasmade anythingremotelyresembling a planvery difficult.
"We'rein a positionat the momentwherewe havea very unpredictablefuture,we can't knowthe affordabilitycurrently andwe don't knowthe dynamics. "Covidhasmadeeventhe preparationof a budget extremelydifficult.We'venot beenableto producea business plan in the waythat I certainly envisagedat the beginningof March:'
Resilience
Mr Georgeaddedtherewasa revisedmanagemenst tructure, staffaccommodationhadbeen improved,extratrain cleaning had beenimplemented,and therewasafocuson improved processefsor planningand reliabilityaswell asthe additional staffnumbersneededfor greater resilience.
ManagingdirectorNick Donovanhasconfirmednew severapl ostshavebeencreated, includingone of chiefoperating officer,to ensureeverytrain runs everydayasplanned,aswell as overseeingengineeringfunctions within the TOC.
Driverrecruitmento address a shortageand planned retirementswill resumeassoon asCovid-19restrictionsarelifted, but the processwill taketime and mayhamperNorthern'sability to reintroducethe full timetable pre-pandemic.
Aheadof a majortimetable recastin December2021there maybe someadjustmentsto Northernserviceswhich currently runto ManchesteAr irport.
Mr Gisbydescribesthis as "re-positioningthe Castlefield Corridorfor the benefitof Manchestecr ommutersrather than travellersto the airport''.
Healsoconfirmeda reduction in the numberof services runningoverthe Castlefield Corridorwasthe wayforward with the newtimetables,but thesetrainswould be longer formations.
Intermsof rollingstock,the reviewsuggestsNorthernis not convincedsomeplanspreviously in placeareworth continuing; thereis little enthusiasmfor a"small,bespokesub-fleet"of battery-electrictrains(Class 769)to work servicesonto the non-electrifiedbranchto Windermerew, ith oneinside sourcesuggesting"somemore electrificationmight be better''.
It isexpectedthe hydrogen train trial onTeessidewill continue,althoughquestions areaskedaboutwhetherthis programmeshouldbe funded by Northernor separatelyby the Dfr.
Thefinalchallengewill beto ensurethat asthe railwaymoves into the post-Covid-19period, the timetableremainsrobustand additionalcapacityismaintained for aslong associaldistancingis required.
All'Pacersh' avebeen withdrawnfrom use,exceptfor a setbeingusedasa'stafftaxi;and Northernnow hasDfr approval to retain33setsand37 Class153sin an operational condition- seestorybelow.
Reliability
TransporSt ecretaryGrant Shappssaid:"It isabsolutely right the immediatefocusof the Government'soperatoris restoringnormalservicelevelsas the countrybeginsthe processof recoveryfrom Covid-19. "Northernisworkingto improve journeysfor passengerasnd colleaguesi,ncludingthe deep cleaningof all trains,recruiting 85 moretrain cleaningstaff, and deliveringupgradesto some stationfacilities.
"Theimpactof Covid-19means we mustprioritisethe safetyof passengerasnd staff. "Ourfocusright now mustbe reliabilityand increasedcapacity to enablesafertravelwith space for socialdistancingwhere possible.
"Howevero, ur ambition for a newNorthernremains unchanged.
"Wewill continueworking with the OLRand stakeholders acrossthe northto rebuildtrust, and rapidlydelivera network passengercsantruly relyon as we recoverfrom Covid-19:'