Michael Dugher MP, Labour’s Shadow Transport Secretary, responding to the publication of the Northern and TransPennine ITTs, said:

“The Tory-led Government has consistently ignored the North of England with broken promises on investment and higher fare rises. People who rely on the rail network in the North have been let down by Tory and Lib Dem ministers so many times, they’ll believe this when they see it.

“If we had a new piece of rolling stock for every time ministers ‘announced’ the end of the Pacer trains, the network would be full of shiny new carriages.

“The Government has rushed headlong to get this franchise out the door before the election in a flawed and chaotic way.

“Whilst we strongly support Rail North’s involvement, we have made it clear that the current franchising system is not fit for purpose. That’s why Labour will be holding a speedy review into the whole franchise system early in the next Parliament.

“We need Labour’s better plan – one that reforms the railways to put the public interest first, reverses the presumption against the public sector and gives passengers a real voice.”