1. History

2. Branding and rolling stock

3. See also

4. Notes

5. External links

6. References

7. Further reading

Network NorthWest was a brand name of British Rail which was applied for a short period to the provincial railway network in North West England. It was launched in 1989 during British Rail's sectorisation programme which created distinct brand identities for regional sub-divisions.

The Network NorthWest name mirrored the larger Network SouthEast brand which had been rolled out on the rail network around London and the South East of England since 1982. Network NorthWest promoted suburban and regional railway services centred on Manchester and was jointly funded by British Rail, the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive (GMPTE) and Lancashire County Council.^[1][2] Some Network NorthWest services overlapped with those of neighbouring Merseyrail, another British Rail regional network which was centred on Liverpool.

History

The public launch of the brand took place on 4 April 1989 at an event hosted by television presenter Stuart Hall at the Manchester Museum of Science and Industry.^[3] Invited guests travelled on a special train formed of a Class 150 "Sprinter" unit from the museum to {{stnlink|Chorley}}, then back from {{stnlink|Adlington (Lancashire)}} to {{stnlink|Manchester Oxford Road}}. Souvenir tickets were issued for the journey.^[4] The Provincial sector of British Rail, which was responsible for the new network, then ran a series of roadshows in town centres across northwest England in June and July 1989 to increase public awareness of the brand.^[5]

With effect from 15 May 1989, when the summer 1989 timetable was introduced, all rail services operated by the Provincial sector of British Rail across a large area of northwest England were marketed and operated under the Network NorthWest name. The area was bounded by {{stnlink|Shotton}}, {{stnlink|Runcorn}}, {{stnlink|Warrington Central}}, {{stnlink|Wigan North Western}}, {{stnlink|Southport}} (via {{stnlink|Parbold}}), {{stnlink|Blackpool South}}, {{stnlink|Blackpool North}}, {{stnlink|Wennington}}, {{stnlink|Colne}}, {{stnlink|Littleborough}}, {{stnlink|Greenfield}}, {{stnlink|Hadfield}}, {{stnlink|Grindleford}}, {{stnlink|Buxton}}, {{stnlink|Congleton}} and {{stnlink|Crewe}}.^[3] The {{stnlink|Wigan Wallgate}}–{{stnlink|Kirkby}} and {{stnlink|Preston}}–{{stnlink|Ormskirk}} branches were also included, but the West Coast Main Line between {{stnlink|Crewe}} and {{stnlink|Wigan North Western}} was excluded because it was run by the InterCity sector.^[4]{{#tag:ref|This left three gaps between the Network NorthWest area and the Merseyrail network: {{stnlink|Warrington Central}}–{{stnlink|Hough Green}}, {{stnlink|Bryn}}–{{stnlink|Garswood}} and {{stnlink|Ormskirk}}–{{stnlink|Maghull}}. The Merseyrail area could be reached via {{stnlink|Southport}} or {{stnlink|Kirkby}} though.^[4]|group=note}}

Also introduced at this time were two one-day Rail Rover tickets allowing unlimited off-peak travel in either the full Network NorthWest area (at £7.60, with reductions for children and Railcard holders) or a smaller zone described as the "central area" (£3.80).^[6] Ticket issuing facilities at stations were also overhauled during the Network NorthWest era: some stations were destaffed or saw reductions in ticket office opening hours, the new APTIS and SPORTIS systems were installed at many stations, and three types of self-service ticket issuing system were trialled at various locations.^[7]

From 15 May 1990, the Merseyrail area was added to Network NorthWest, and additional Rover tickets were introduced to cover various parts of the network. A Rover covering the whole enlarged area cost £10.90.^[8]

Network NorthWest was a short-lived venture and few examples remain of the Network NorthWest brand today. Network NorthWest was eventually absorbed into the Regional Railways operation prior to the privatisation of British Rail and the brand disappeared from use. After privatisation, railway services in the Network NorthWest zone were taken over by North Western Trains (1997–2004) and subsequently by Northern Rail and Northern, while two local lines were taken into the Manchester Metrolink light rail system.

Branding and rolling stock

Network NorthWest featured a red and grey NW logo which was applied to publicity, timetables, station signage and some rolling stock across the region. The limited NorthWest provincial train livery was a blue upper body, light grey lower body and a red and grey bodyside stripe with an "NW" Logo.^[9] The livery was applied to a number of Class 150 "Sprinter" trains serving routes in and out of Manchester,^[10] and some Class 142 "Pacer" trains in light blue British Rail Provincial livery had the "NW" emblem applied alongside the British Rail double arrow logo.^[11]

See also

• Overground Network – a pilot brand used for London rail 2003–2006

Notes

External links

Example of Network NorthWest livery on rolling stock:

• [https://www.flickr.com/photos/johannes-j-smit/3185004736/in/set-72157611738607089 Class 150 Sprinter at Manchester Victoria]
• [https://www.flickr.com/photos/jncarter1962/10478915936/ Class 150 Sprinter at Chester]

References

Further reading

• {{cite magazine|title=A new identity for local rail network in the North West|page=39|issue=93|date=6–19 April 1989|magazine=RAIL|publisher=EMAP National Publications|issn=0953-4563|oclc=49953699}}
• {{cite magazine|title=BR staff attacked as Network NorthWest suffers delays|first=Eric|last=Lord|page=13|issue=100|date=13–26 July 1989|magazine=RAIL|publisher=EMAP National Publications|issn=0953-4563|oclc=49953699}}

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