IT is agreed that the Northern Rail and TransPennine Express refranchising exercise will shape the region's rail services for years to come.

But there is less consensus on whether the direction of travel so far signals a bright future or casts a shadow over the network.

To date, three operators have been shortlisted for the Northern Rail franchise and three for the TransPennine Express (TPE), with the winners due to be announced in October 2015 and scheduled to take over the services from February 2016.

A consultation exercise finished last month (August) and bidders are now starting work on their proposals.

However, there has been widespread concern in the North-East and nationally that the Department for Transport (DfT) prospectus for bidders sets the wrong tone.

The Campaign for Better Transport (CBT) warned that rather than a plan for growth and investment, the DfT talked of trade-offs and doing more with less.

It is feared this could result in cuts to less profitable services in order to fund those with more passengers.

Concerns that fares will rise without a corresponding increase in the quality of service have also been expressed.

And last week The Northern Echo revealed that the 30-year-old Pacer trains may be "modernised" rather than replaced, as previously pledged by ministers.

The trains – condemned as “cattle trucks” – were due to be replaced as part of the Northern Rail refranchising exercise.

But the DfT admitted they may be kept running for at least another decade.

Other concerns include potential staff reductions at stations and onboard trains affecting safety and customer service.

Martin Abrams, from the CBT, said the refranchising of the Northern and TransPennine Express services was a real opportunity for Northern England to get the investment in transport infrastructure it so desperately needed.

However, he added: "Sadly though it seems the Government is planning for decline rather than growth, undermining its rhetoric to promote the region's economy.

"The Department for Transport are forcing fares up, failing to ensure investment in new trains, and even allowing for some services to be cut through the new rail franchises."

The North East Local Enterprise Partnership outlined one example of where the region could lose out without sufficient investment.

"On much of the network, passenger and freight currently share the same infrastructure," the Lep said.

"Projected growth in passenger numbers and freight tonnage mean that we must invest or growth will be curtailed.

"The economy cannot function effectively and commercial competitiveness and social inclusion will both suffer without the right transport infrastructure."

A DfT spokesman said: "We have embarked on a £1 billion programme of improvements to the railway network in the north to pave the way for faster more reliable journeys across the region and the Chancellor has unveiled his vision for a high speed network for the region’s biggest cities. Over the past few years we have already delivered improvements at stations across the region.

“A new franchise operator will have a role to play in this continuing transformation, so we will be asking bidders to come up with innovative and ambitious proposals that will ensure a truly world-class rail network that delivers the best experience for passengers.

"As part of this we are requiring all bidders to submit proposals for the replacement of the Pacer trains, because we recognise that they fall short of many passengers’ expectations.”