Crisis-hit Northern Rail close to collapse and facing its franchise being axed by the end of the month

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CRISIS-hit Northern Rail is facing the axe by the end of the month.

The operator is in serious financial trouble and close to collapse, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps revealed yesterday.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps revealed Northern rail is close to collapsing due to financial difficulties

Northern Rails parent company Arriva Rail North has made a last-ditch bid to save its franchise by coming up with an emergency plan.

But in a statement to Parliament, Mr Shapps said he would decide later this month whether to accept its plan or nationalise the line.

He added: Passengers in the North have had to put up with unacceptable services for too long.

We understand how frustrating this has been for people and we are taking action to make sure that performance improves.

Northern Rails botched timetable roll-out has caused 18 months of disruption.

At its peak, 310 trains a day were cancelled.

Northern rail passengers have been dealing with ‘unacceptable services for too long’ says Grant Shapps

Passengers were stranded at stations for hours and herded on to severely overcrowded carriages when the trains finally turned up.

Just 55.6 per cent of Northern trains arrived on time last year well below the national average.

Northern Rail boss Chris Burchell blamed Network Rails failure to complete infrastructure projects.