(09 Dec 2015, 7:57 am)Adrian wrote Next Northern Franchise Owner Announced
http://www.northernrail.org/news/7807

Hope that the service to/from Bishop Auckland is still going hourly, if it does I may look more favourably on using the train for when I head to Middlesbrough as since the recent X66/X67 changes it is a bit of a faff on getting there now.

The franchise agreements for the Tyne Valley are two trains per hour in each direction - one express and one stopper (essentially extending the Hexham turnbacks to Carlisle).
Why this has been said as being 12 times faster I do not know. Unless they're introducing helicopters.

(09 Dec 2015, 12:12 pm)DanPicken wrote It could be a stopper like now and an express.

http://maps.dft.gov.uk/northern/index.html
There are drop down options that detail station and line improvements, including 158's being used.

(09 Dec 2015, 1:40 pm)Andreos1 wrote http://maps.dft.gov.uk/northern/index.html
There are drop down options that detail station and line improvements, including 158's being used.

Pleased that I'm getting more services. Wonder what will be used on the Bishop Auckland service once the Pacer's go?

Honestly can't remember what the Class 142's are like as it's been over two years since I was last on one and the few times I have used Northern Rail it has been a 156, the most recent being 156479 making an appearance on a Saltburn service last Wednesday: https://flic.kr/p/ANspfG

Happy with a half hourly service between Sunderland and Newcastle about time!

(09 Dec 2015, 2:32 pm)Jimmi wrote Pleased that I'm getting more services. Wonder what will be used on the Bishop Auckland service once the Pacer's go?

Honestly can't remember what the Class 142's are like as it's been over two years since I was last on one and the few times I have used Northern Rail it has been a 156, the most recent being 156479 making an appearance on a Saltburn service last Wednesday: https://flic.kr/p/ANspfG

The 142's aren't the best ride in the world and were obviously meant for a short term fix.
The seating quality varies too .

With 158's being cascaded north and getting some sort of rebrand, maybe we will see them upgraded further?

(09 Dec 2015, 6:36 pm)Andreos1 wrote The 142's aren't the best ride in the world and were obviously meant for a short term fix.
The seating quality varies too .

With 158's being cascaded north and getting some sort of rebrand, maybe we will see them upgraded further?

It says on the Arriva Rail North website they will be receiving a full revamp, more tables, Wi-Fi, plug sockets and seat reservations.

(09 Dec 2015, 7:38 pm)LeeCalder wrote It says on the Arriva Rail North website they will be receiving a full revamp, more tables, Wi-Fi, plug sockets and seat reservations.

Bad idea, unless they come up with something like Cross Country have, where you can reserve 20 minutes before travel.

(09 Dec 2015, 8:26 pm)Adrian wrote Bad idea, unless they come up with something like Cross Country have, where you can reserve 20 minutes before travel.

Definitely so.

I want to know what units they'll be ordering for the new rolling stock.

(09 Dec 2015, 7:38 pm)LeeCalder wrote It says on the Arriva Rail North website they will be receiving a full revamp, more tables, Wi-Fi, plug sockets and seat reservations.

Do you have a link to the website? I can't find it on Google...

http://www.arrivarailnorth.org/

(09 Dec 2015, 7:38 pm)LeeCalder wrote It says on the Arriva Rail North website they will be receiving a full revamp, more tables, Wi-Fi, plug sockets and seat reservations.

Are all of the 158's falling in to the 'Northern Connect' brand or just some?
Some stations will get this brand too, like the Metrocentre.

a new high-quality ‘Northern Connect’ service, meaning new or refurbished trains on longer-distance services, faster journeys and stations staffed daily with catering services and free Wi-Fi at each one

Middlesbrough to Newcastle
The benefits are:
•there will be a half-hourly service between Middlesbrough, Stockton and Newcastle, providing 30 trains per day in each direction. The current service is generally hourly
•at least 10 services per day will be Northern Connect services, operated by fully-refurbished, air conditioned Class 158 trains
•today’s service levels will be preserved at intermediate stations, but with earlier first trains and later last trains along the route

Newcastle to Carlisle
The benefits are:
•half-hourly service between Newcastle and Carlisle, providing 28 trains per day in each direction – 13 more than now. Some services will be faster than today, at around 80 minutes
•a minimum of 10 services each way will operate as “Northern Connect” services, operated by fully refurbished trains
•that Carlisle will receive at least two arrivals from Newcastle before 09:00, providing more choice and capacity for those travelling to work in Carlisle. Currently only one service arrives before 09:00
•the MetroCentre will have 42 trains per day to and from Newcastle, 30 trains per day to and from Hexham, 28 trains per day to and from Carlisle, and at least 12 trains per day to and from each of Sunderland and Morpeth
•that MetroCentre and Hexham will become Northern Connect stations, open from 6am until 10pm with free Wi-Fi and refreshments available for purchase

(10 Dec 2015, 9:27 am)Andreos1 wrote Are all of the 158's falling in to the 'Northern Connect' brand or just some?
Some stations will get this brand too, like the Metrocentre.

I think they are.

I'm glad Arriva Northern are giving us better services.... the Metrocentre is well served though....... 


Sunderland station needs doing - would be good for Arriva Northern to install toilets etc, hopefully when the station gets done (near Burger King etc), these will be installed....

(10 Dec 2015, 9:42 am)Michael wrote I think they are.

I'm glad Arriva Northern are giving us better services.... the Metrocentre is well served though....... 


Sunderland station needs doing - would be good for Arriva Northern to install toilets etc, hopefully when the station gets done (near Burger King etc), these will be installed....

99.9% certain Sunderland station is Network Rail owned, rather than one that is owned/managed by a toc.
Northern may just manage the day to day running of it.

(10 Dec 2015, 11:09 am)Andreos1 wrote 99.9% certain Sunderland station is Network Rail owned, rather than one that is owned/managed by a toc.
Northern may just manage the day to day running of it.

Oh right, well Network Rail should install toilet's. 

(10 Dec 2015, 11:16 am)Michael wrote Oh right, well Network Rail should install toilet's. 

no need...

The place is already a toilet 😛

(10 Dec 2015, 11:17 am)MrFozz wrote no need...

The place is already a toilet ?

Now that i agree on.

(10 Dec 2015, 11:16 am)Michael wrote Oh right, well Network Rail should install toilet's. 

You're obsessed with toilets!

First Park Lane and now the station haha.

Anyway, there is a £10m revamp ahead, so hopefully there are some toilets installed for you.
http://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/busin...-1-7502221

(10 Dec 2015, 11:39 am)Andreos1 wrote You're obsessed with toilets!

First Park Lane and now the station haha.

Anyway, there is a £10m revamp ahead, so hopefully there are some toilets installed for you.
http://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/busin...-1-7502221

He should stand in the next Council Elections on the single issue of

More Shithouses For Sunderland

(10 Dec 2015, 11:39 am)Andreos1 wrote You're obsessed with toilets!

First Park Lane and now the station haha.

Anyway, there is a £10m revamp ahead, so hopefully there are some toilets installed for you.
http://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/busin...-1-7502221

Hahaha, Burger King has toilets but i'm not sure the public can use them and tbh i have no idea where they would go in the station.

Ye, when we see that revamp, its being going on for years.... lol

(10 Dec 2015, 11:42 am)Michael wrote Hahaha, Burger King has toilets but i'm not sure the public can use them and tbh i have no idea where they would go in the station.

Ye, when we see that revamp, its being going on for years.... lol

Going solely by the location of the Milligans, the station offices and Burger King and where their water/drainage facilities will be - the most cost effective way, would be to place the toilets on that side of the station.

If they went elsewhere, then there will be the costs associated with diverting or extending the pipes from the existing facilities or from the buildings on Fawcett Street.

(10 Dec 2015, 11:42 am)Michael wrote Hahaha, Burger King has toilets but i'm not sure the public can use them and tbh i have no idea where they would go in the station.

Ye, when we see that revamp, its being going on for years.... lol

The public do use them though, I have certainly never been told when I have used Burger Kings toilets 😀

(10 Dec 2015, 12:02 pm)MrFozz wrote The public do use them though, I have certainly never been told when I have used Burger Kings toilets 😀

Surprising considering I went in there once and they kicked right off because I brought a bottle of Pepsi in with me, wasn't even going to drink it, sorry for saving the planet by not getting a carrier bag!

(10 Dec 2015, 12:14 pm)Jimmi wrote Surprising considering I went in there once and they kicked right off because I brought a bottle of Pepsi in with me, wasn't even going to drink it, sorry for saving the planet by not getting a carrier bag!

woe betide anyone who steps into BK with a drink not purchased from there

It's great news that Arriva Rail North Ltd have won the Northern Rail franchise. I look forward to the improvements that are to come in the next two or three years. "Northern" and "Northern Connect" looks promising, especially for the lines that need the most investment (Newcastle to Carlisle and Newcastle to Middlesbrough).

It won't need much of a rebrand - especially that everything will be called either "Northern" or "Northern Connect".

I look forward to travelling with "Northern" in the future.

How would the branding work

Would Northern Connect simply be a brand under the Northern Banner or will Northern Connect be a seperate entity under the Arriva banner...

if that makes sense 😀

(10 Dec 2015, 2:41 pm)MrFozz wrote How would the branding work

Would Northern Connect simply be a brand under the Northern Banner or will Northern Connect be a seperate entity under the Arriva banner...

if that makes sense ?

"Northern" and "Northern Connect" will be under the "Northern" banner. 

The current Arriva branding on websites etc is just to build up the ego of the new company.

I just thought Northern and Northern Connect would have been seperate entities under Arriva

(10 Dec 2015, 2:55 pm)MrFozz wrote I just thought Northern and Northern Connect would have been seperate entities under Arriva

From the outside looking in and reading between the lines, it looks like a branding exercise - similar to what we see on the buses.
Northern is the bog standard corporate brand and Northern Connect is the Max/Sapphire equivalent.

Imagine that.... a Sapphire 142