DRS to support Cumbrian Coast additional capacity

The transport secretary, Patrick McLoughlin, visited Carlisle on 8th January to announce a number of improvements to maintain existing rail services in the north of England and enhance rail services on the Cumbrian Coast. DRS are delighted to confirm that we will be providing operational support and rolling stock to deliver these essential services.

Patrick McLoughlin MP said: “Rail services across the north are vital for passengers and for the economy. By helping people access work and leisure more easily, we are securing long-term economic growth across the region. That is why we have worked hard with Northern and Transpennine Express to ensure that we expand services and enhance passenger journeys.”

Discussions with Northern Rail and the Department for Transport have centred around the provision of two of our, newly refurbished locomotive hauled, MKII coaching stock sets operating on the Cumbrian Coast on a Monday to Friday basis.

This exciting new service follows on from the successful trials supported by the NDA, Sellafield Ltd and Northern Rail in 2012 which received a high amount of positive feedback from customers.

Following today’s announcement Neil McNicholas, Managing Director for Direct Rail Services said: I am very proud to be involved in supporting Northern in delivering its vital services for Cumbria. This shows what can be achieved through a true partnership approach between freight and passenger operators.

Alex Hynes, Managing Director, Northern Rail said: “Rail travel is increasingly popular in the north of England placing capacity at a premium. That is why we have been working with First TransPennine Express and the Department for Transport to ensure customers would not be disadvantaged by the loss of some FTPE trains. In doing so we are delighted to be able to provide more seats for customers on some of our busiest routes. Through deploying more electric trains to take advantage of newly electrified routes we are able to help maintain capacity for FTPE and add more seats for customers in the North West.”

Nick Donovan, Managing Director for First Transpennine Express said; “A great deal of background work has been undertaken by ourselves, Northern Rail and the Department for Transport that seeks to ensure capacity and frequency of FTPE services across our network is maintained for the timetable change in May 2015. I am delighted that we have been able to work together and develop a plan that aims to protect rail services for the huge majority of customers in the north of England and, indeed, deliver some additional capacity at a time when demand across our network is higher than ever.”

More information on this can be found on the Northern Rail or DFT websites and will also be reported in the news by CN Group and ITV.

Kyle Palmer

Communications and Marketing Manager

Tel 07736 899055