This afternoon (Friday 8th June) TransPennine Express (TPE) released a statement saying they will not be running an inaccessible train service. We know that the opposition to their original inaccessible plan played a significant role in changing their minds. The full press statement is below:
'Following recent discussions with the Department for Transport and Rail North Partnership, TransPennine Express can confirm that it will not introduce any Mk 3 trains into passenger service.
The two additional trains were originally planned to be brought in on a temporary basis later this year to carry customers on the route between: Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds and Scarborough, but will now instead be used exclusively to support our driver training programme for our new trains introduction.
The first of TransPennine Express’s brand new Nova trains are on track to begin serving these communities from autumn 2018.'
Statement here