UNION PROTESTS AT FARE INCREASE HIKE
minute of their time slot in the 12 months to December 7, compared with an average across Britain of 65 per cent.
The chaotic new timetables hundreds of cancelled a day.
Punctuality and reliability problems continue to blight the network, it was said.
Yesterday, Mr Shapps went beyond his autumn call for proposals by pledging to sack Northern.
Asked if it should be stripped of its franchise, he said: “It’s been really bad. Since 2016 people have had a nightmare on that line.
“I was up there a lot during election. I saw it first hand.
“I already announced to Parliament in the autumn that I have started the process, called a request for proposals.
“That means it either will go to a introduction of in May 2018 saw Northern trains the
FURIOUS workers and passengers gathered outside King’s Cross station yesterday to protest against the hike in prices.
Some commuters saw the annual cost of getting to work increase by more than £100 as fares rose by an average of 2.7 per cent.
Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union held placards at the London station. The action follows the end of 27 days of strikes on South Western Railway.
General secretary Mick Cash said: “Another year, another decade, and passengers are facing another year of fare increases because we’ve got a failed system.” direct award contract or operator of last resort to run.
“The simple answer to the question is yes, it is going to be brought to an end.
“It’s partially a legal process but frustrated commuters will not have to wait long.”
He added: “It’s completely unacceptable to have a situation where trains almost routinely don’t run to a routine, don’t run on time. I simply will not put up with that.”
Asked if his intention is to remove the franchise from Northern, Mr Shapps said: “That’s right.”
South Lakes Liberal Democrat MP Tim Farron said: “Removing Northern’s franchise won’t come a
to
the moment too soon. I only wish this Government had realised the North’s train services were in chaos sooner.”
Kate Anstee, of passenger group Northern Resist, claimed rail travellers will be “incredulous” if Northern is handed a new deal.
Failed
She said: “There’s certainly no justification for giving them a shortterm contract.”
David Brown, managing director of Northern, said: “It’s on record that the Northern franchise has faced several material and unprecedented challenges in the past couple of years, outside the direct control of
Northern. The most significant of these is the ongoing, late delivery of major infrastructure upgrades.”
These challenges included delays to the electrification of the North-west network and the lengthening of platforms at Leeds.
Mr Brown added: “These factors, alongside the damage caused by strike action and lower than expected economic growth, have had a significant effect on the revenue expected in our original business plan.
“Northern remain fully committed to delivering the transformation of the North’s railways and improving customers’ experience.”