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Function
Northern Rail’s function is to deliver train and station services, together with related support activities to passengers in accordance with the specifications of its Franchise Agreement. The Franchise Agreement itself will be a contract between the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA), and each of Greater Manchester, Merseyside, South Yorkshire, Tyne and Wear, and West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executives (PTEs) and Northern Rail.
Regions
Three regions: the North West, North East and Yorkshire and Humberside, with a combined population of 14.2 million are served by Northern’s operations. The regions represent some 21% of the United Kingdom’s GDP. Its growing airports at Manchester, Leeds/Bradford, Liverpool and Newcastle provide hubs linking the regions as an integral part of both the European and global economies.
At the heart of the regions are the great cities and surrounding travel to work areas of Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield and Newcastle. These cities as well as continuing to be large employment centres have also experienced economic and social re-generation resulting in a new cultural vibrancy. Northern’s services also provide access to and from remote rural and coastal communities, offering an important aspect of social inclusion for local residents and providing a sustainable means of travel for the many visitors to tourist locations such as York, the five National Parks, and coastal resorts.
Northern Rail will also operate over 17 of the lines proposed by the SRA for Community Rail designation Importantly one of those routes, the Esk Valley line from Middlesbrough to Whitby is designated as one of the five national pilot schemes with the purpose of gaining early experience in taking forward the SRA’s proposed strategy.
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