Almost 60 new trains will be in service by 2006

FirstGroup and French-based Keolis are at the start of an eight-year deal with the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) to run train services on the route.

The joint venture took over the operation on Monday from Arriva Trains Northern.

The franchise covers Tyneside, Wearside, Cumbria, Teesside, Merseyside, Manchester and Yorkshire.

Vital route

The service, formed by merging certain routes and operations currently run by First North Western and Arriva Trains Northern, is expected to provide about 13 million passenger journeys a year.

The new eight-year franchise also has an option for a five-year extension.

Moir Lockhead, chief executive of FirstGroup, has said: "We can't wait to get started.

"We have a major role to play in developing high quality public transport and providing an attractive alternative to the car on these vital routes. "

'Better integration'

Jean-Pierre Deghaye, Keolis director, told BBC News Online in September 2003: "This is a great achievement, but the most important task is still ahead of us - to deliver what we have promised the SRA and our passengers."

The deal also includes plans building new train maintenance depots on both sides of the Pennines, upgrading all 30 stations and developing better integration between train and bus services as well as more flexible ticketing arrangements.

The franchise will have its headquarters in Manchester, with key senior managers based east of the Pennines.

A new fleet of 56 trains will be built and maintained by Siemens in �350m deal with FirstGroup.

The diesel trains, called Desiros, have been specifically designed for operation on the Trans-Pennine network.

Due to be in service by 2006, they will feature security cameras inside carriages and dedicated facilities for disabled travellers.