The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is investigating whether a merger situation has taken place between Arriva Rail North and Northern Rail Limited that would result in a substantial lessening of the market(s) in the UK.<\/p>\n
On 1st<\/sup> April 2016 an initial enforcement notice was served by the CMA on to Arriva Rail North to ensure that no action is taking place until it has been determined whether the potential merger would cause a substantial lessening of competition.<\/p>\n With the current state of our rail system already a less-than-pleasant experience for consumers with high prices, cramped carriages, and regular delays, there are real and valid concerns over this situation. The Northern Franchise is the largest rail franchise in Britain as it serves 526 stations while operating over 15,000 local and regional services per week. The franchise provides inter urban, commuter, and other services across the North of England. This includes long distance services such as Nottingham to Leeds; urban services like Sheffield to Manchester; and rural services such as Hull to Scarborough.<\/p>\n
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