Transport secretary Grant Shapps said passengers had ‘lost trust in the north’s rail network’, which runs train services out of Liverpool Lime Street and across the North. Tony McDonough reports

Northern Rail is to be renationalised from March 1 after the Government finally ran out of patience following years of delays, cancellations and timetable chaos.

Transport secretary Grant Shapps said said passengers had “lost trust in the north’s rail network”, which has been run by trains and buses giant Arriva since 2016. He added: “People across the north deserve better.”

The chaos on Northern, which runs train services out of Liverpool Lime Street and across the North of England, had got even worse since since new timetables were introduced in May 2018. It is the biggest rail franchise in the UK by length of its route network and serves more than 500 stations. Last year it received a state subsidy of £763m, the biggest on the country’s rail network.

Liverpool City Region and Greater Manchester Metro Mayors, Steve Rotheram and Andy Burnham, have been pushing for the franchise to be renationalised. In a joint statement, they said: “Today’s news is a victory for passengers who have had to endure almost two years of misery and mayhem on Northern Rail.”

However, both business leaders and rail unions warned the decision would not, in itself, solve the problems on the network. They say the only long-term solution is significant Government network in infrastructure and capacity.

Henri Murison, director of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, a group of senior business and political leaders, said: “In stripping Northern of their franchise in favour of a return to public ownership under the Department for Transport’s Operator of Last Resort, the Transport Secretary is dealing with the symptoms, but not necessarily the root causes of the problems on our railways, which relate to infrastructure.

“And his absence from the House of Commons to make a statement in person and answer questions today is frankly unacceptable and will not have gone unnoticed amongst many Northern business and civic leaders.”

Aslef, the union representing train drivers, also called for more investment. General secretary Mick Whelan said: “ We welcome today’s decision because we want the railway in public ownership but let’s do it properly, with a clear, long-term, strategic vision, not just as a short-term response to the years of franchised failure.

“There won’t be an immediate improvement because many of the systemic failures at Northern cannot be remedied overnight.”

Chris Burchell, managing director of Arriva UK Trains, gave his reaction to the decision, saying: “We had a clear vision for the Northern franchise that would better connect the cities of the North with more frequent, reliable and modern services and unlock economic growth.

“It was clear however that, largely because of external factors, the franchise plan had become undeliverable.  A new plan is needed that will secure the future for Northern train services.  As such, we understand Government’s decision today.”