Network NorthWest
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A Class 142 at Manchester Piccadilly in Network NorthWest/BR Provincial livery | |
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Franchise(s): | Not subject to franchising |
| Main region(s): | Manchester, North West England |
| Parent company: | British Rail |
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 of BR as a prelude to privatisation.
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.
Branding & 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.[3] The livery was applied to a number of Class 150 "Sprinter" trains serving routes in and out of Manchester,[4] 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.[5]
Demise
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, while two local lines were taken into the Manchester Metrolink light rail system.
See also
- Overground Network - a pilot brand used for London rail 2003-2006
External links
Example of Network NorthWest livery on rolling stock:
References
- ↑ "Summary of Events: 1986 to 2002". Museum of Transport Greater Manchester. Archived from the original on 11 November 2011. Retrieved 30 June 2014.
- ↑ "Network Northwest". RAIL (EMAP) (93): 39. 6 April 1989. ISSN 0953-4563.
- ↑ "Diesel/Electric Locomotive Livery: Provincial Network North West". Rail UK. Retrieved 30 June 2014.
- ↑ "Fictitious Liveries - Network NorthWest (1989)". Birmingham Railcar Workgroup. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
- ↑ "Class 142 Liveries (1985-Present)". The Pacer Preservation Society. Archived from the original on 30 March 2014. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
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