Northern Spirit

Northern Spirit
Northern Spirit
Northern Spirit Logo.png
156443 at Carlisle.JPG
Franchise(s): Regional Railways North East
1997 – 2000
Main region(s): North East, Yorkshire
Other region(s): North West, East Lothian (peak times)
Fleet size: 201
Stations called at: Unknown
Parent company: MTL

This article is about the railway company Northern Spirit. For the Australian football (soccer) club of the same name, see Northern Spirit FC.

Northern Spirit was a UK train operating company which ran local and regional train services in the north east of England during the late 1990s.

Contents

Operations

Created from part of British Rail's Regional Railways sector during privatisation, the company operated a network of local and regional train services centred on the north east of England. Also extending into England's north west and operating the long distance TransPennine Express service, its services covered over 1,200 miles of the British rail network and employed over 2,800 staff in 1997.[1]

The company was originally known as Regional Railways North East and this name was retained for over a year after privatisation, with the Northern Spirit brand introduced during May 1998.[2]

Franchising and ownership

Originally let to transport company MTL for a seven year term beginning on 2 March 1997, the company was sold in 2000 after MTL ran into financial difficulty. New owners Arriva renamed the franchise as Arriva Trains Northern, with services ultimately being divided between new franchisees Northern Rail and First TransPennine Express during 2004.

The network was heavily subsidised, receiving over £223 million in funding during the last year of nationalised operation by British Rail against passenger revenue of under £76 million.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b Knight, Steven, ed (1997). A comprehensive guide to Britain's new railway. Peterborough: EMAP Apex Publications. ISSN 368-437X. 
  2. ^ http://www.designweek.co.uk/news/train-logos-by-giant-and-cgi/1119578.article

External links



Preceded by
Regional Railways
As part of British Rail		 Operator of the Regional Railways North East franchise
1997 - 2000		 Succeeded by
Arriva Trains Northern


v · d · eDefunct train operating companies in the United Kingdom
▲ Current • Future ►
InterCity:
Regional:
London and South East:
*1 Including Central Citylink *2 Now a sub-brand of Southern *3 Now a sub-brand of South West Trains *4 including Silverlink County & Silverlink Metro



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