THE new company soon to be operating the region's busiest rail route has warned passengers not to expect overnight improvements to the service.
TransPennine Express takes over TransPennine services from Arriva Trains Northern on February 1 after it was criticised for running overcrowded trains last year. But managing director Vernon Barker has warned passengers that they could have to wait months before they see any big changes to the service.
He has promised that trains and stations will be cleaner, but a £250m fleet of 56 new trains that can travel at up to 100mph and will reduce journey times by up to ten minutes will not be introduced until summer 2005.
The company is planning £10m of improvements to stations including Middlesbrough, Yarm and Thornaby, on Teesside, and Scarborough and Northallerton, in North Yorkshire, but the work is not expected to be completed until summer 2007.
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