RAIL services on routes operated by Northern are to be brought under public control.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps made the announcement on Wednesday, January 29, saying that he wanted passengers to see ‘real and tangible improvements’ as soon as possible.

The Government-controlled Operator of Last Resort (OLR) will take over the Northern franchise from Arriva on March 1. The OLR already runs services on the East Coast Main Line under the LNER brand, following the failure of the Virgin Trains East Coast franchise.

Mr Shapps said: “For too long, millions of rail passengers in the north of England have not had that. They have had to start and end their working day facing cancellations and delays.This is a new beginning but it is only a beginning. Northern’s network is huge and complex, some of the things which are wrong are not going to be quick or easy to put right.

“The rollout of new trains...will continue and, in Yorkshire, Pacers will be gone by the spring and next year we will move electric trains from elsewhere on the network to the north, boosting capacity.”

The news has been welcomed by local politicians and transport groups.