First North Western
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| Franchise(s): | North Western 1. April 1998 – 12. December 2004 |
| Main region(s): | North West |
| Other region(s): | North Wales, London, Yorkshire |
| Fleet size: | 184 |
| Stations: | 247 |
| Parent company: | First Group |
| Web site: | [http:// ] |
First North Western was a train operating company in the United Kingdom serving North West England. 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.
First North Western services are now mainly operated by Northern Rail with Manchester Airport to Windermere/Barrow services are now operated by TransPennine Express, Manchester Piccadilly to Llandudno, London/Crewe to Holyhead, Bidston to Wrexham and Llandudno to Ffestiniog services operated by Arriva Trains Wales and Manchester Piccadilly to London Euston services operated by Virgin Trains.
It operated using:
- 79 Class 142s,
- 27 Class 150s,
- 8 Class 153s,
- 18 Class 156s,
- 8 Class 158s,
- 27 Class 175s and
- 17 Class 323s
Their headquarters were in Whitworth St, Manchester city centre. Its train depot was at Newton Heath between the Manchester to Rochdale via Castleton Line and the Manchester to Rochdale via Oldham Line.
The new class 175 trains were used only on Manchester Piccadilly to Llandudno, 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. However Arriva Trains Wales runs the Manchester Piccadilly to Llandudno, Holyhead, and Crewe to Holyhead. No services now run between Holyhead and Birmingham.
| Preceded by North Western Trains Great Western Trains |
Operator of North Western franchise 1998-2004 |
Succeeded by TransPennine Express First ---- Northern Rail NedRailways/Serco ---- Wales and Borders National Express |
| Defunct train operating companies: | |
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| InterCity: | Anglia Railways - Great Western Trains |
| London & South East: | Connex South Central - Connex South Eastern - First Great Eastern - First Great Western Link South Eastern Trains - Thames Trains - Thameslink - wagn |
| Regional/National: | Arriva Trains Merseyside - Arriva Trains Northern - First North Western - MTL - North Western Trains Northern Spirit - ScotRail - Valley Lines - Wales and Borders - Wales and West - Wessex Trains |
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