First North Western
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Franchise(s): | North West Regional Railways 2. March 1997 – 12. December 2004 |
| Main region(s): | North West |
| Other region(s): | North Wales, London, Yorkshire |
| Fleet size: | 184 |
| Stations called at: | 247 |
| Parent company: | First Group |
First North Western was a train operating company in the United Kingdom serving North West England.[1] A subsidiary of First Group, it lost its franchise in 2004.
The company when first privatised was known as North Western Trains and was owned by Great Western Trains, which was a partnership between Great Western's management and First Group. Eventually First bought the management team out and renamed the company. North Western Trains took over from the British Rail sector North West Regional Railways, which was known for a short time as Network North West.
Their headquarters were in Whitworth St, Manchester. Its train depot was at Newton Heath, between the Caldervale Line and the Oldham Loop Line.
Contents |
[edit] Routes operated
First North Western services are now mainly operated by Northern Rail with Manchester Airport to Barrow-in Furness /Blackpool North services now operated by First TransPennine Express. Transpennine Express also took over the Manchester Airport to Windermere service, but made the service infrequent as of 8 December 2007.
Manchester Piccadilly to Llandudno/Holyhead, Chester to Crewe, Crewe to Holyhead, Bidston to Wrexham and Llandudno to Ffestiniog services operated by Arriva Trains Wales. The former First North Western route of Birmingham to Holyhead is now an infrequent service operated by both Arriva Trains Wales and Virgin Trains. North Western Trains also operated some services from Manchester to London for short time. However, Virgin Trains now have competition protection on that route and now run a more frequent and faster service than previously.
[edit] Rolling Stock
Most of First North Western’s rolling stock was former British Rail trains. (New operator Northern Rail still have mainly former British Rail trains.) One new trains type were built for First North Western the 175s, which have since been transferred to Arriva Trains Wales.
The Class 175 replaced the old 101s and ran the following services: Manchester Piccadilly to Llandudno (also one morning journey from Chester to Manchester via Altrincham which formed a service to Llandudno when it arrived at Manchester Piccadilly), Manchester Piccadilly to Holyhead, Crewe to Holyhead, Birmingham to Holyhead, Manchester Airport to Barrow-in-Furness, Manchester Airport to Windermere and Manchester Airport to Blackpool North. Arriva Trains Wales runs the Manchester Piccadilly to Llandudno, Holyhead, and Crewe to Holyhead.
[edit] Rolling stock
| Class | Image | Type | Top speed | Number | Built | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| mph | km/h | |||||
| Class 101 |  |
Diesel multiple unit | 75 | 120 | 6 | 1956 - 1959 |
| Class 142 Pacer | Diesel multiple unit | 75 | 120 | 79 | 1985 - 1987 | |
| Class 150 Sprinter |  |
Diesel multiple unit | 75 | 120 | 27 | 1985 - 1987 |
| Class 153 Super Sprinter |  |
Diesel multiple unit | 75 | 120 | 8 | 1987 - 1988 |
| Class 156 Super Sprinter |  |
Diesel multiple unit | 75 | 120 | 18 | 1987 - 1989 |
| Class 158 Express Sprinter |  |
Diesel multiple unit | 90 | 145 | 8 | 1989 - 1992 |
| Class 175 Coradia |  |
Diesel multiple unit | 100 | 160 | 27 | 1999 - 2001 |
| Class 322 | Electric multiple unit | 100 | 160 | 4 | 1990 | |
| Class 323 |  |
Electric multiple unit | 100 | 160 | 17 | 1992 - 1993 |
[edit] References
| Preceded by Regional Railways As part of British Rail |
Operator of the North West Regional Railways franchise 1997 - 2004 |
Succeeded by Northern Rail Northern franchise |
| Succeeded by First TransPennine Express TransPennine franchise |
|
|||||||||||||||||
