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.