The government is taking over the running of the service from 1 March.

It was announced earlier that train operator Northern will be taken into public ownership after the government stripped the train operator of its franchise. But what does that actually mean?

Image source, Danny Lawson/PA Wire

The decision, which will see the troubled company brought under government control, follows months of disruption and complaints from passengers about poor services and old rolling stock.

Transport Minister Grant Shapps says nationalisation means the company will:

• Continue work to roll out 101 new trains on the network
• Remove all Pacer trains in Yorkshire by spring
• Bring more electric trains on the network in the north
• Trial new technology to combat overcrowding
• Boost capacity into Leeds
• Extend platforms at 30 stations to accommodate longer trains
• Deep clean all trains

Mr Shapps added: "This is a new beginning for Northern, but it is only a beginning."

Chris Burchell, from Arriva, which runs the Northern franchise, said it had become "undeliverable" and that passengers "deserved better".

German-based Arriva had been due to run Northern until March 2025, but the firm's franchise will now be stripped from 1 March.

A wanted man who taunted police with a card saying "luv you lots" and that he would see them soon has been arrested.

Image source, South Yorkshire Police

Posting on social media, Doncaster Central Neighbourhood Policing Team said: "This card was sent to us by one of our lovely customers last week.

"This morning he's been arrested on suspicion of attempted burglary and assaulting an officer."

The card's author was also wanted on a recall to prison, the neighbourhood policing team said.

To add to his woes, the card came in for a bit of interrogation from the "grammar police" for a number of errors, including "I'm of [sic] out on the tiles".

The affectionate writer also adorned the card with kisses.

Several thousands of pounds worth of damage has been caused at a sports club in Rotherham after what are believed to be chemicals were poured on the cricket pitch.

It's the second time in six months the pitch at Clifton Lane, the home of Rotherham Town Cricket Club, has been damaged.

The damage is centred around the wicket, leading the club to believe it's at targeted attack.

Richard Fidler, from the club, said: "This is absolutely terrible really. We don't know who's doing it, but we know the motive.

"It's people trying to stop us playing cricket on Clifton Lane.The vandalism we've had has been very specific to cricket - nets damaged and sightscreen damaged."

Police confirmed that it had been contacted about the damage.

Make-up artist and quadruple amputee Danielle Bailey showcases her work online.

Tom Burridge
Transport correspondent, BBC News

The nationalisation of train operator Northern in March, announced today by Transport Minister Grant Shapps earlier, external, is an uncomfortable moment for the government.

Image source, Danny Lawson/PA Wire

In the end, nationalising this vast commuter network was its only option.

An agreement to change Arriva's contract (Northern's parent company) and keep the firm on board wasn't possible because a commercially, and politically, palatable deal couldn't be found.

Contingency planning for the so-called Operator of Last Resort to step in has been under way for months.

If that work has been done well, it should be a seamless change and passengers should barely notice.

What the government wants on Northern is a new performance-related train contract.

This type of contract already exists on Merseyrail and the London Overground. These two companies do well in terms of passenger satisfaction.

These contracts put less risk on the train company but offer it no financial reward if passenger numbers rise.

As one rail boss described it, this type of system will be very similar to a nationalised railway, but private companies will still have a role to play.

The trial aims to provide a sustainable alternative to farming scallops, environmentalists say.

This is the moment a kitten in Barnsley was freed by firefighters after it got its head stuck in a jar.

Image source, SOUTH YORKSHIRE FIRE SERVICE

A member of the public brought the cat in to Barnsley fire station at about 21:10 on Tuesday.

Firefighters used wire cutters to free the kitten.

The freed feline was "none the worse" for its ordeal, said the service.

Luke Mortimer lost his hands and legs to meningococcal meningitis when he fell ill before Christmas.

Hull is one of the UK's most congested cities, according to new research.

Image source, PA Media

The study, by sat-nav company TomTom, puts Hull in the top five when it comes to the extra time drivers spend sat in traffic.

This puts Hull above Manchester, Liverpool and Glasgow, with the company saying drivers spend about six days and seven hours per year in rush hour traffic.

Out of 100 cities across the world, Hull is also ranked the 73rd worst for congestion - which is lower than last year's ranking.

The Mayor of the Sheffield City Region, Dan Jarvis, has welcomed the news that train operator Northern is to be put into public ownership, but warns "significant investment" is now needed from the government.

Image source, SHEFFIELD CITY REGION

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announced earlier the troubled rail company will be taken into public ownership in March, following years of major disruption.

Responding to the news, Mr Jarvis, who is also the Labour MP for Barnsley Central, said the government's "overriding principle" should be ensuring reliable rail services.

He said: "To see real change and restore passenger confidence in what has been an unacceptably poor transport system, significant investment is needed in infrastructure across the North – where spending is still a fraction of that in London and the south east.

“That’s why I’m calling for government to commit to a sustained programme of investment in our public transport system.

"As a priority, they need to work closely with northern leaders on the operator of last resort arrangement; focus investment on shovel-ready schemes that ensure passengers see the benefits sooner rather than later," he added.

Franklin Graham's appearance in Sheffield has been cancelled because of his "discriminatory" views.

Huddersfield goalkeeper Kamil Grabara is to spend a second night in hospital after a head injury in their win at Hull.

The Northern rail franchise, which it has been announced will be nationalised from 1 March, had become "undeliverable", according to the boss of the company behind the franchise.

Image source, Danny Lawson/PA Wire

The government's move, which will see the franchise stripped from operator Arriva Rail North from 1 March, comes after passengers "lost trust in the north's rail network", Transport Minister Grant Shapps said.

Responding, Chris Burchell (pictured), UK Trains Arriva Group managing director, said: "We had a clear vision for the Northern franchise that would better connect the cities of the North with more frequent, reliable and modern services and unlock economic growth.

"It was clear however that, largely because of external factors, the franchise plan had become undeliverable."

The "scale of the challenges" Northern faced were out of the firm's direct control and "unprecedented", Mr Burchell said.

The company "understood" the government's decision and a "new plan" was needed to secure the future for Northern train services, he added.

Overall service improvements had "not come quickly enough and passengers deserve better" he said.

Six pupils at Birkdale School in Sheffield suffered minor injuries in a bus crash earlier this morning, the school has said.

The boys were injured when the bus they were travelling on crashed into a barbers shop in Handsworth Road at about 07:45.

In a statement, headmaster Peter Harris said: "They have minor injuries but thankfully are not badly hurt."

A further 15 children who were on the bus were pupils at Sheffield High School for Girls.

Passengers react to the government's takeover of troubled rail company Northern.

The government is to make the final decision on whether to proceed with the high speed rail link HS2 on Thursday.

Image source, SIEMENS/ PA

Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Chancellor Sajid Javid and Transport Secretary Grant Shapps will meet to come to a final position.

It is not yet clear when the government intends to announce the final decision.

It follows a leaked review of the project suggesting it could cost almost double the £56bn originally expected in 2015.

Phase 1 of the rail line between London and Birmingham is due to open at the end of 2026, with the second phase to Leeds and Manchester scheduled for completion by 2032-33.

Image source, HS2

The title of "Yorkshire's tallest building" could be moving from Leeds to Sheffield.

Image source, Staniforth Architects

Sheffield City Council planners approved outline plans for a 38-storey tower on Rockingham Street in Sheffield city centre on Monday.

At 117m (394ft), the new block would be 5m (16ft) higher than Yorkshire's current tallest building, Bridgewater Place in Leeds.

The block would include a gym, cinema and 1,230 residential rooms.

Transport Minister Grant Shapps says the government has a strong track record of running a rail firm, pointing to the success it has seen on the East Coast Main Line.

Image source, PA Media

London North Eastern Railway (LNER) took over operating on the East Coast Main Line when Stagecoach and Virgin Trains were stripped of their franchise in 2018.

Now, it's been announced that operator Northern is to lose its franchise and be taken into public ownership in March.

Mr Shapps said passenger satisfaction had risen in the nineteen months it has been operating LNER, something he hoped he could also do with Northern.

He said: "Today’s announcement will inevitably raise questions about the future of rail privatisation.

"However, it is clear that the current model is now struggling to deliver. Across the country a number of franchises are failing to provide the reliable services that passengers require.

"We know change is needed, and it is coming."

Politicians from across Yorkshire have been reacting to today's announcement that troubled rail company Northern is to be brought under government control.

Rachael Maskell, Labour MP for York Central said she was "pleased with the news" while Pontefract, Normanton and Castleford MP Yvette Cooper said it was "about time".

Meanwhile Labour MP for Leeds West Rachel Reeves accused the government of "dragging their heels" over the decision.