| Five
major train companies serve Newcastle-Upon-Tyne in the north east of
England. Three of the franchises have changed hands in the
last few years and the remaining two are due to change by the end of this
year. Virgin (above) has spectacularly lost the
cross-country franchise to Arriva and GNER (below right) having
overbid on the original franchise will lose its routes to National
Express. Already modified are Scotrail (right) now with
First but formerly with National Express [a class 156 in SPT livery on the
lengthy route from Stranraer seen here], First Trans Pennine Express (below
left) now with First but formerly with Arriva and Northern Rail (bottom)
now with NedCo (NS Railways from Holland) and Serco but formerly with
Arriva and First. |
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