The Government is preparing to scythe one of Britain’s biggest rail networks in two as part of a potential re-nationalisation of train services across the North of England.

Northern rail would be separated into two franchises – North West and North East – under plans prepared by Whitehall officials, senior industry sources said.

It is understood that the troubled train network will be formally transferred into public ownership as early as March 31 under plans pulled together by Whitehall officials.

It will be the first time for almost two decades that the sprawling network, which straddles the Pennines, is split up.

Northern, which operates 16,000 train journeys a week and services a population of 15 million people, has been beset by problems since Arriva took over in 2016. Delays to critical upgrades of tracks and stations have been coupled by crippling strike action and a bungled change to timetables.

Angry commuters – many of whom live in former “red wall” constituencies that belt northern England – have taken to the streets to vent their frustrations at a lack of action from Westminster during the past year.

Transport secretary Grant Shapps ordered Arriva – owned by German state operator Deutsche Bahn – to draw up a new plan for the network in October. Its proposals will be compared to those put forward by the Operator of Last Resort, a government body that runs failed rail franchises.