First North Western Article Index for
First
Website Links For
First
 

Information About

First North Western




First North Western was a Train Operating Company in the United Kingdom serving North West England. A subsidiary of First Group , it lost its franchise in 2004 .

The company when first privatised was known as North Western Trains and was owned by Great Western Trains which was a partnership between Great Westerns management and First Group. Eventually First bought the management team out and renamed the company. North Western Trains took over from the British Rail sector ''' North West Regional Railways ''' which was known for a short time as Network North West.

First North Western services are now mainly operated by Northern Rail with Manchester Airport to Windermere/Barrow services are now operated by First TransPennine Express , Manchester Piccadilly to Llandudno, London/Crewe to Holyhead, Bidston to Wrexham and Llandudno to Ffestiniog services operated by Arriva Trains Wales and Manchester Piccadilly to London Euston services operated by Virgin Pendolino.

It operated using British Rail Classes
142 ,
150 ,
153 ,
156 ,
158 ,
175 and
323

Their headquarters was at Newton Heath between the Manchester To Rochdale Via Castleton Line and the Manchester To Rochdale Via Oldham Line .

The new Class 175 trains was used only on Manchester Piccadilly to Llandudno , Manchester Piccadilly to Holyhead , Crewe to Holyhead , Birmingham to Holyhead , Manchester Airport to Barrow-in-Furness , Manchester Airport to Windermere and Manchester Airport to Blackpool North . However Arriva Trains Wales runs the Manchester Piccadilly to Llandudno , Holyhead , and Crewe to Holyhead . No services now run between Holyhead and Birmingham .