Kennster - easy enough - it won't be happening as the Department for Transport have REFUSED the idea.
So in as much as First wanted to operate it as part of their franchise plan (just as much as Virgin), like everything else on the railways it has to get the approval from Department for Transport, and as usual us in the North West miss out!
You may not know but Bolton lose the First Transpennine services (Airport to Blackpool, Airport to Barrow and Airport to Glasgow/Edinburgh) and will not be replaced - They are being replaced by electric trains and will be running via Wigan and NOT Bolton. ALL the diesel units are being moved to the London area. - by order of the Department for Transport
Also Northern Rail (joint venture between Nederland Spoorwegen-Abellio and Serco) will be losing their newer rolling stock - again they are being moved to the London area and will be replaced by rolling stock which are actually older than what we have now (and on average it is already 30 years old) - by order of the Department for Transport.
Also by 2019 ALL the train-buses (you know the ones coaches with 1980's bus seats and look like buses both inside and out) will bbe withdrawn BUT nothing has been place on order to rep[lace them - thus reducing Northern Rail's rolling stock even further, whilst the London area are getting a £10million investment in new trains with none being moved or withdrawn!!!
@RT for coaches, I honestly don't know who or which are the best!