TRANSPORT group Arriva is introducing new trains worth £1.2bn to transform services from the North of England.

The investment in new, faster, quieter trains is at the heart of Arriva's proposal for an improved Trans-Pennine Express franchise.

Arriva Transpennine hopes to attract new users and relieve road congestion, contributing to regional employment and economic growth.

Further spend on track infrastructure is also planned. The first tranche of the new trains will be introduced by 2004.

The Alstom Coradia 180s will serve the North and South Transpennine corridors.

Providing much improved passenger information, both audible and visual, there will be better facilities for the disabled, as well as air conditioning and better service facilities.

Track improvements and upgrades will be sponsored by Arriva in partnership with Railtrack and other interested train operators.

Nigel Patterson, managing director of the Northern Spirit division of Arriva, said: "Key to achieving our primary aspirations of better punctuality and reliability targets are new trains, track improvements and better signaling."

Arriva's bid will be delivered to the Shadow Strategic Rail Authority by the middle of March and Arriva's Transpennine performance will be independently monitored by the challenging performance regimes and the National Passenger Survey.