(02 Apr 2020, 5:26 pm)Andreos1 wrote It genuinely wouldn't surprise me, to see the network become part of the next 'Northern' franchise.
Weirdly eventually I could see it going the other way and Heaton's routes going across to be controlled with the Metro in some form of Merseyrail franchise. It would make sense in parts and allow for better ticketing since bar Saltburn to Bishop Auckland, everything runs through Newcastle anyway and could promote more rail usage especially between the Metro Centre and Middlesbrough, Chathill and Newcastle and the new SE Northumberland route (if it opens) which are all massively underuterlised atm. (Metro Centre to Carlisle is fine).
It's always been a bit of spare part in terms of Northern's main operating area.