First North Western: Data & Information
November 1998 – 12th December 2004
Owned by FirstGroup, First North Western operated the North West Regional Railways franchise from November 1998 until December 2004.
In the lead up to the privatisation of British Rail, the North Western section of Regional Railways was established. For a brief period from 1989, this section was operated under the short-lived Network North West brand name, before becoming North West Regional Railways. The franchise was awarded by the Director of Passenger Rail Franchising to Great Western Holdings, a partnership between Great Western's management, First Group and 3i, with operations commencing on 2nd March 1997 under the North Western Trains brand.
On 27th October 1997, a new livery of dark blue with a gold star was unveiled.
In March 1998, First Group bought out the other shareholders in Great Western Holdings. The business was rebranded from North Western Trains to First North Western in November 1998 with First's corporate blue, pink and white livery adopted.
In 2000, the Strategic Rail Authority announced that it planned to create a new TransPennine Express franchise transferring First North Western's Barrow-in-Furness and Windermere services, with the North Wales Coast Line services transferred to a new Wales & Borders franchise and the remaining services combined with those of Arriva Trains Northern to form a new Northern Rail franchise. On 28th September 2003, the North Wales Coast Line services transferred to Wales & Borders.
In July 2003, the Strategic Rail Authority awarded the TransPennine franchise to FirstGroup/Keolis with services operated by First North Western transferring to First TransPennine Express on 1st February 2004.
In July 2004, the Strategic Rail Authority awarded the Northern Rail franchise to Serco-NedRailways with the remaining services operated by First North Western transferring to Northern Rail on 12th December 2004.
Read MoreOwned by FirstGroup, First North Western operated the North West Regional Railways franchise from November 1998 until December 2004.
In the lead up to the privatisation of British Rail, the North Western section of Regional Railways was established. For a brief period from 1989, this section was operated under the short-lived Network North West brand name, before becoming North West Regional Railways. The franchise was awarded by the Director of Passenger Rail Franchising to Great Western Holdings, a partnership between Great Western's management, First Group and 3i, with operations commencing on 2nd March 1997 under the North Western Trains brand.
On 27th October 1997, a new livery of dark blue with a gold star was unveiled.
In March 1998, First Group bought out the other shareholders in Great Western Holdings. The business was rebranded from North Western Trains to First North Western in November 1998 with First's corporate blue, pink and white livery adopted.
In 2000, the Strategic Rail Authority announced that it planned to create a new TransPennine Express franchise transferring First North Western's Barrow-in-Furness and Windermere services, with the North Wales Coast Line services transferred to a new Wales & Borders franchise and the remaining services combined with those of Arriva Trains Northern to form a new Northern Rail franchise. On 28th September 2003, the North Wales Coast Line services transferred to Wales & Borders.
In July 2003, the Strategic Rail Authority awarded the TransPennine franchise to FirstGroup/Keolis with services operated by First North Western transferring to First TransPennine Express on 1st February 2004.
In July 2004, the Strategic Rail Authority awarded the Northern Rail franchise to Serco-NedRailways with the remaining services operated by First North Western transferring to Northern Rail on 12th December 2004.
