Date: 30/09/2016

Cross Country rail passengers have been promised more seats and faster journeys after Arriva retained the contract to run the franchise until October 2019. The operator has been set tough targets for punctuality and reliability on Cross Country services, which run from Aberdeen to Penzance, Bournemouth to Manchester and Stansted to Birmingham, among other routes. The Department for Transport (DfT) said there would be an additional 39,000 seats per year at peak times along the Edinburgh to Plymouth route through Leeds, Birmingham and Bristol by December 2017. Journey times from Birmingham to Manchester are to be cut by nine minutes on weekdays and 12 minutes at weekends. The government is investing £20m in upgrading Cross Country trains and said passengers will get free Wi-Fi by April 2018. Arriva, which is owned by Germanys Deutsche Bahn, also operates Chiltern Railways and Grand Central services, as well as trains in Wales.

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Arriva promises faster rail journeys as it retains Cross Country contract

Guardian

Department for Transport says there will be 39,000 more seats per year and greater reliability, with £20m to be spent on upgrading trains

Related images

'I see no ships... ' A couple standing on the Royal Tweed Bridge at Berwick looking out to sea on a fine, bright October afternoon, as a CrossCountry Voyager rumbles over the Royal Border Bridge in the background. The train is the 13.06 Edinburgh Waverley - Plymouth.
Location: Royal Border Bridge
Company: North British Railway
09/10/2012 John Furnevel

Currently the UK's longest scheduled end-to-end railway journey. A CrossCountry Voyager pauses at Cupar on 2 October with the 0820 Aberdeen - Penzance. The train is scheduled to complete its 722 mile, 13 hour 23 minute journey at 2143.
Location: Cupar
Company: Edinburgh and Northern Railway
02/10/2014 Andrew Wilson

Super Voyager 221119 pulls away from Birmingham International with a CrossCountry Bournemouth to Manchester Piccadilly service on 25 September. The elevated Sky-Rail link to the Airport starts from the grey building top right.
Location: Birmingham International
Company: London and Birmingham Railway
25/09/2014 Mark Bartlett