First of Northern’s new trains enter service

THE first of Northern’s new trains have gone into service today. Nine CAF-built units are working services between Cumbria and Manchester Airport, Liverpool Lime Street and Manchester Airport, and between Doncaster and Leeds. Northern’s deputy managing director Richard Allan said: ‘These new trains are the biggest investment in local rail services in the North for a generation and the whole Northern team is very proud and honoured to be able to introduce them to our customers on three of our routes.’ However, the introduction of the new trains is running behind schedule, and it is reported that some of the Pacers may have to stay in service until 2020. If they did, they would miss the deadline for them all to be withdrawn by 31 December.