MAIL have welcomed news the government has started proceedings which could soon see under-fire rail provider Northern stripped of its franchise. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has confirmed he has launched a process which would either strip Northern of its franchise or issue a short-term contract to them. The Department for Transport said: “We are taking action to ensure passengers in the North get a better service and we will provide an update in due course.” The development follows calls for action from rail passengers and MPs as well as campaigns such as The Mail’s ‘Get our Railway Back on Track’.

Craig Preston said: “I will say one thing they’re always very punctual with the annual price increases.”

Chris Grennell said: “Northern Rail have been an absolute disgrace to our once very reliable train service for years and years especially on Friday and Saturday evenings when they just cancelled trains because they really didn’t care! And it’s not about who’s in government it’s down to the people at the top who owned the franchise, they’re the wrong doers. It’s so easy to pass the blame onto politicians whatever party that serve, as politicians go every party is as bad as the other I’m not a lover of any of them.”

Ian Graham said: “It’s not about complaining. Whoever is in Government needs to be held accountable by the public for their performance whether its Conservatives, Labour, Liberal, UKIP parties. People need to realise their votes actually matter to normal working peoples lives that can’t afford to pay inflated ticket prices or run the risk of being fired every time they are late for work due to a bad train service.”

Craig Johnston said: “They haven’t gone! Indeed one of the options being looked at by the Tories is a two year direct award .... to Arriva Northern.”

Jessie Critch said: “Will only get worse to be honest with the Tories in but most of Barrow voted him in and didn’t have a clue so can’t complain really.”