Northern (Arriva Rail North)

[knutstransport]

RE: Northern (Arriva Rail North)

(14/10/2018 11:46)mikestone Wrote:  When ATW applied for Airport services one of the objections was that they might have to be withdrawn to accomodate the extension of Calder Valley services, so clearly even then there was concern that Piccadilly-Slade Lane couldn't cope.

Whenever an operator applies for a path for a new service to start ahead of a full recast there are objections about the operator taking paths which might be needed for something else long term - Virgin objected to TPE operating via Wigan.

DfT instructed Northern bidders to leave a path so that the W&B franchise could either:
1. Run an hourly Airport-Piccadilly-Chester service
2. Run an hourly Stalybridge/Victoria-Chester service

Arriva opted for the first option which explains why they got rid of the all-stops Airport shuttle, despite it not being a requirement to do.