Grant Shapps: 'Bradford people have been let down by rail services - it had to change'

As Transport Secretary, headlines on the poor performance passengers have suffered on the railways doesn’t make for easy reading.

I’m well aware that people in Bradford and across Yorkshire, have been let down by their rail services in recent years.

They have faced cancellations and delays, overcrowding and unreliability.

It’s meant that they’ve been late for work, missed out on their children’s bedtimes and missed crucial appointments.

As a frustrated commuter myself I know first-hand the toll of inadequate train services.

The situation wasn’t right, it wasn’t fair and it had to change.

Earlier this year we announced that the Northern franchise would be run by the Government operator.

Yesterday marked the network’s first day under new control and the start of work to make the changes that passengers want and need to see. Local leaders will advise the new operator – putting passengers firmly at the heart of the new franchise.

Of course, many of Northern's problems are due to inadequate infrastructure. This must change - though inevitably the upgrades required will take some time.

Nevertheless, I am determined that Northern passengers see real and tangible improvements across the network as soon as possible.

For instance, lots of rail users have told us that as well as being unreliable, their trains have been dirty. This is unacceptable.

That’s why we’re going to ensure that trains are deep cleaned so that every passenger can travel in the comfort they quite rightly expect.

We are getting rid of the clapped-out Pacer trains that have been a source of misery to so many passengers.

And we have been extending platforms across the network to make room for longer trains.

I have also tasked the new operator to start work on tackling the overcrowding that passengers tell us has dogged too many of their journeys.

That’s why it will be rolling out new technology to identify crowding pinch points across the network and deal with them.

We’re also going to introduce more electric trains into the fleet from next year.

But these are just first steps.

If we are to truly improve Bradford’s railways we need to focus on the future as well.

That’s why the leadership of the new operator will use the first 100 days to review the franchise from top to bottom and develop a longer-term plan for the network.

The plan will be put together following talks with passengers and local leaders.

It will mark an important step in the right direction, towards a future where the North of England takes back control of its railway.

Because those daily train journeys aren’t just about getting from A to B. They’re about opening up access to opportunities and driving economic growth so that people and places can thrive.

As the world’s first UNESCO City of Film, Bradford’s artistic exports are well-known. David Hockney, the Brontës, and the Alhambra theatre, are just some of its claims to fame.

Talent is spread evenly around the UK, but opportunity is not. In order to make sure that people are able to reach their full potential, it’s crucial that we have the connections and infrastructure in place to support them.

I’m convinced transport is the best way of achieving this and allowing this town to flourish.

Last year the Prime Minister promised that we would give the railway back to the places where it was born. The first decisive step has now been taken.