Northern has announced the introduction of new trains to serve Blackpool.
From Monday 9 September, brand-new electric trains will start to operate between Blackpool and Liverpool. Further introductions will come before the end of the year for services between Blackpool and York via Blackburn and Burnley, and Blackpool and Hazel Grove via Bolton.
Blackpool is one of the first towns in the North to receive Northern’s new trains and the state-of-the-art fleet will connect the town with key cities and region across the network.
Paul Maynard MP for Blackpool North and Minister for Transport joined Northern and other community leaders and representatives at Blackpool North for an event and ride out on the new trains.
What did the officials say?
Paul said:
“The rollout of new, modern trains across the Northern network is a landmark moment in delivering better journeys for passengers.
“We want to see significant improvements in performance across the north to get trains running on time. The government is investing heavily in transforming services, Northern has started to retire the first Pacers, and we have already seen an extra 2,000 services introduced every week. There’s still much to do, but this is a great start.”
David Brown, Northern’s Managing Director said:
“The Northern network is busier than it has been for a generation – more than 100 million customer journeys will be made on Northern services in 2019 – and the introduction of new trains is at the heart of our transformation for customers.
“We are delighted therefore that customers travelling to and from Blackpool will now be served by brand new trains.
“These fantastic trains are a true step-change in travelling experience and we are extremely proud to be delivering a £500m investment.
“From early September we will have 20 brand new trains carrying customers, with more to come throughout 2019 and into 2020.”
John Blackledge, Director of Community and Environment at Blackpool Council, who was also at the launch said:
“I am delighted that Northern’s new trains will be soon be operating to and from Blackpool and across the north of England. They have been long awaited and no doubt there have been challenges, but they are fantastic vehicles that will make a real difference to everyone’s travelling experience.
“The new trains, coupled with investment and transformation of local bus and tram services, means Blackpool is better connected than ever before and residents of – and visitors to – our great town now have fantastic transport options.
“Northern’s new trains will enable better access to employment, to business and to education and will no doubt support our critical tourism market. They are a vital step to a better connected Blackpool and north of England.”
Where Next?
News Homepage
For the Latest Railway News
RailAdvent Online Shop
Framed Prints, DVD’s / Blu-Ray’s and more
LocoStop Community
Come and share your railway pictures
Does this mean that
Northern are going to run a Blackpool/Preston/ Manchester & Liverpool. Service on Sundays??? Because at the moment it’s a JOKE.
Why is Northern getting rid of the Class 319s and replacing them with the Class 323s cascaded from West Midlands Railway. Why can’t Northern keep some of the Class 319s and to use them on Leeds-Skipton, Doncaster, Bradford Forster Square and Shipley services and to work alongside with the Class 333s and Class 321s/Class 322s. As Class 331s will be used on newly electrified and existing electrified routes and Class 195s to operate on rural services in the Northwest.
Hmmmm! aren’t class 195 units diesel , not electric?