(14 Apr 2013, 1:09 pm)aureolin wrote(14 Apr 2013, 9:31 am)fozzovmurton wrote What is the chances of TPE being merged into the Northern Franchise
Highly unlikely I'd say. Something like that chance to catch the eye of the competition commission. More so with what happened with the West Coast franchise.
Wouldn't be a problem for the DfT. It would be more of a problem for the operator, but there are checks in place on First Scotrail and First in Glasgow.
The government has chosen to slim down most operations, with Arriva operating Wales, First in Scotland and the South West.
To be honest, a lot of it is up in the air with local Authorities appearing to want to get involved but balking at the financial risk.