A TROUBLED rail operator is to be brought to an end after years of widespread delays, cancellations and 'unacceptable' performance.

Northern Rail, which operates rail services across the North-East into North Yorkshire and Cumbria, will come to an end as the franchise is brought under public ownership from March 1.

Today, the Department for Transport renamed one of its OLR (operator of last resort) companies to 'Northern Trains Limited' as speculation over Northern Rail's future mounted.

But making the announcement that the Arriva-owned firm would come to end, the Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said he wanted passengers in the north to see "real and tangible improvements across the network as soon as possible."

Last month, Mr Shapps branded Northern Rail 'unacceptable' as just over half of its services arrived on time, hundreds of services were cancelled during the new rollout of timetables in 2018, and its decades-old 'Pacer' trains remained in operation.

The Northern Echo: Northern Rail had previously been criticised for the late running of servicesNorthern Rail had previously been criticised for the late running of services

On Wednesday, Mr Shapps said: “This is a new beginning for Northern, but it is only a beginning.

“Northern's network is huge and complex and some of the things which are wrong are not going to be quick or easy to put right.

"But I am determined that Northern passengers see real and tangible improvements across the network as soon as possible.

“The railways were invented in the North. Last year the Prime Minister promised that we would give the railway back to the places it was born, giving more power over services, fares, and stations to local leaders.

“Today marks the first small step towards the North taking back control of its railways and its people taking back control of their travelling lives.

“There will be no more leaving behind. This Government is committed to levelling-up.”

The Northern Echo: Barry White of Transport for the North Picture STUART WALKER Barry White of Transport for the North Picture STUART WALKER

Welcoming the announcement, describing the government's action as a "fresh start" for passengers, Barry White, Chief Executive of Transport for the North said: "Our hard-pressed passengers have been calling for action for some time – as have our Members.

"Now, at last, we have the chance of a fresh start - action has been taken and we can move forward.

"This new initiative must put passengers first and provide a reliable rail service that rebuilds trust that has been lost.”

The cancellation of Northern Rail follows a similiar decision taken in 2018 when Virgin Trains East Coast was stripped of its franchise and brought under government control as LNER.

Mr White said: “In addition to this change, essential infrastructure is needed to reach the levels of performance and reliability we need, and we now need to see early commitment to this and accelerated delivery from Government.”

The Northern Echo: Grant Shapps, left, Andy McDonald Middlesbrough MPGrant Shapps, left, Andy McDonald Middlesbrough MP

On social media, Labour MP for Middlesbrough Andy McDonald said the government's actions were "overdue" as he said the taxpayer had been left to "pick up the pieces."

He said: "Yet another private train company has failed, leaving the nation to pick up the pieces. Taking Northern into public ownership is overdue, but it should be permanently nationalised along with the rest of the railway. Let’s take back control of our railway."

'Hard-working local people rightly demand a reliable high-quality rail service'

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen who wrote to Northern Rail in January after the firm continued to operate its decades-old Pacer train despite a written agreement not to, said: "The decision to strip Northern Rail of their franchise couldn’t come soon enough.

"Hard-working local people across Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool rightly demand a reliable high-quality rail service and it’s been clear for far too long that Northern are simply not up to the job.

"Enough is enough and I am pleased the Transport Secretary has acted in the interest of northern travellers.”

The Northern Echo: The Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen previously slammed the firm for the continued operation of the Pacer trainThe Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen previously slammed the firm for the continued operation of the Pacer train

'Services won't be disrupted' 

On social media, Northern Rail confirmed that passenger journeys are not affected by the change and existing tickets booked online will transfer to the new Northern Trains Limited firm.

Chris Burchell, managing director of Arriva's UK Trains division, said "largely because of external factors, the franchise plan had become undeliverable".

Apologising to passengers who he said "deserve better," he said: "We had a clear vision for the Northern franchise that would better connect the cities of the North with more frequent, reliable and modern services and unlock economic growth.

"It was clear however that, largely because of external factors, the franchise plan had become undeliverable.

"A new plan is needed that will secure the future for Northern train services. As such, we understand Government's decision today.

"I would like to recognise the hard work of the 6,000-strong team at Northern who have worked tirelessly over the last four years to deliver improvements to local rail services in the North, at times under extremely difficult conditions."

Mr Burchell said the scale of the challenges the firm faced were outside Northern Rail's direct control citing delayed or cancelled infrastructure projects and prolonged strike action.