the plan is still to introduce azuma in december.the only franchise that may be in trouble. there are big concerns about the state of trans—pennine at the moment, and i would not bet against there being real problems there in the short term, and that would be a real double whammy for the north of england. cos you've not only got what's now just generally referred to by the public as northern fail, because the services aren't being delivered, but you then also have problems on the trans—pennine route, too. trans—pennine told us it's committed to investment, more seats and new trains in the next two years. so what's the solution? perhaps it's one of these — a fat controller. i think there should be a commissioner of transport for the north whose job is to see that the advertised service is being delivered. and to give instructions to the privatised rail companies and to network rail to see that happens. instead, it has been decided that trains on the east coast line will be run by a partnership between the government and a private comp