How New Year changes for publicly owned train operators could change travel in Leeds
2026 looks set to be a landmark year for the rail industry as the journey towards Great British Railways accelerates - and it could see some big changes to the Leeds network and beyond.
The seven train operators already in public ownership are leading the charge, with a range bold plans for the year ahead.
Plans for 2026 follow a year of transformation in 2025, where three more operators (c2c, South Western Railway and Greater Anglia) transferred into public ownership. Here are some of the changes that could impact travel across Leeds and Yorkshire.
Northern Rail
2026 will see Northern will press ahead with its ambitious ‘30 by 30’ plan, a data-driven strategy launched in November aimed at increasing annual customer journeys by 30 million by the end of the decade.
The plan focuses on sustainable, long-term growth through organic demand, improved performance and targeted interventions – each of which the train operator says will deliver 10m extra customer journeys.
LNER
LNER’s recently expanded timetable is set to transform connectivity in 2026.
By adding thousands of extra services and seats, the operator is unlocking unprecedented opportunities for the regions it serves and delivering an additional £105 million in annual economic, social, and environmental benefits.
TransPennine Express
At TransPennine Express, the roll-out of dedicated Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) will continue in 2026, providing a visible and approachable presence across the network.
They will support staff with low-level incidents, deliver high-visibility patrols and act as a direct link to British Transport Police (BTP). Five PCSOs are already active on the network and three more are set to join in February.
Ticket acceptance scheme
A number of publicly-owned train operators also agreed a new ‘cross-operator ticket acceptance scheme’ to keep passengers moving during disruption and expanded the availability of Advance Purchase fares involving journeys on more than one operator.
Trials for ticketless rail travel, making it as easy as hopping on a train and pressing a button on your phone to start your journey, are also set to continue into 2026, along a number of Yorkshire routes. These routes includes Leeds to Harrogate, and Sheffield to Barnsley.