TONY MILES reports on TransPennine Express’s new train introduction plans and the refurbishment of its Class 185 DMUs
These are exciting times for TransPennine Express. By the end of 2019 it will be operating a fleet comprising brand new and refurbished trains, and will have delivered a major capacity boost on key routes across the north of England.
The franchisee reports continued growth in passenger numbers to 27 million journeys per annum. While this is lower than at the end of the previous franchise in April 2016, the transfer of a number of services to Northern means on a like-for-like basis these figures are still on the up.
This growth has come despite 75% of the company’s revenue coming from leisure passengers and only 15% from regular commuters. The final 10% is derived from business travel, an area targeted for development as the new fleets of larger trains enter service.
