The Northern Powerhouse Minister has told ITV News that the process to strip Northern Rail of its franchise could've been started sooner.

Minister says Northern Leaders could have 'acted sooner' on Northern rail

Ministers are "developing contingency plans for a replacement for Northern rail", Boris Johnson has said.

Johnson says "contingency" plans being developed for Northern Rail replacement

The meetings in Leeds on Wednesday come as criticism mounts over the services provided by both Northern and TransPennine Express.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has announced he is 'taking action' because the service on Northern Rail is "unacceptable."

Rail commuters suffered cancellations and delays on the first weekday of the new winter timetable.

Figures show Northern Rail cancelled 15,800 trains across the North West in the past year according to an App.  That's around 43 per day. 

First improvement for passengers from a £15 million benefits package announced last week 

Rail workers were said to be solidly supporting the latest strike in the long-running dispute over guards on trains.

Rugby League fans heading to Old Trafford could face disruption by rail staff's latest strike 

The Prime Minister has insisting that her government has the answers to the train misery facing the region's commuters. 

After a summer of chaos on the region's railways passengers are now being warned there's a fare increase of at least 3% on the way.


Metro Mayors in the North West of England are demanding a price freeze on rail fares before 2019 as compensation for recent disruption. 


Workers on Arriva Rail North are to stage a series of fresh 24-hour strikes in the bitter row over the role of guards.

The GMT Union has hit out at Northern after it cancelled around 80 services across its network on Sunday.

The Prime Minister has been urged to step in personally to end rail "chaos" in the North of England.