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<p>Our absolute priority is ensuring passengers in the north benefit from new trains,
more services and increased capacity as quickly as possible.</p><p>Northern retired
the first of its 102 Pacers in August and it plans to remove two thirds by December
2019. Northern advises that, subject to receiving appropriate dispensation, up to
34 (11 Class 142 and 23 Class 144) Pacers will remain in the fleet for a short time
into 2020 to cover the delay in delivery of new trains into the franchise. If these
trains were not allowed to continue in the fleet, then a large number of services
would need to be cancelled and causing disruption for passengers across the North.
Northern’s current plan is to remove all 142s by February 17, 2020 and to remove 144s
by May 17, 2020.</p><p> </p><p>The Pacers will operate mainly in South Yorkshire including
Sheffield to Gainsborough Central, Huddersfield and Doncaster as well as areas of
West Yorkshire and Manchester.</p><p> </p><p> </p>
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