Train operating company in Northern England
This article is about the current operator of the Northern franchise. For the previous operator of the Northern franchise, see
Arriva Rail North
.
Northern Trains
,
[6]
trading as
Northern
, is a British
train operating company
owned by
DfT OLR Holdings
for the
Department for Transport
(DfT), after the previous operator
Arriva Rail North
had its franchise terminated at the end of February 2020.
The company commenced operating the Northern franchise on 1 March 2020, taking over from Arriva Rail North. The prior operator had its franchise terminated early by the DfT in January 2020 amid widespread dissatisfaction over its performance, particularly in respect of poorly implemented timetable changes. The DfT had opted to hand the operation of the franchise over to the
operator of last resort
. At the commencement of operations, Northern publicly stated that its immediate aims were to improve service reliability and to proceed with the introduction of new rolling stock. For the latter, both the
Class 195
diesel multiple units
and
Class 331
electric multiple units
were brought into service fully during December 2020.
Services have been disrupted by wider events, particularly the
COVID-19 pandemic
. Northern is also being impacted by the
2022?2024 United Kingdom railway strikes
, the largest national rail strikes in the UK in three decades.
History
[
edit
]
Background
[
edit
]
In December 2015, the
Department for Transport
(DfT) awarded
Arriva
a contract to operate the Northern franchise as
Arriva Rail North
. It commenced in April 2016 and was originally scheduled to run until March 2025.
[7]
[8]
Within two years, the franchise was being widely criticised, in particular for troubled implementation of a new timetable in May 2018 that resulted in widespread delays and cancellations.
[9]
[10]
Later in 2018 performance continued to suffer, with many passengers protesting and a reduced service on Saturdays due to
industrial action
.
[11]
[12]
[13]
[14]
By November 2018, Arriva were re-evaluating their future involvement in the franchise due to a combination of declining passenger numbers as a result of the chaotic May 2018 timetable change and increasing compensation claims as a result of falling punctuality.
[15]
In June 2019, the DfT's operator of last resort, DfT OLR Holdings, conducted due diligence into the franchise believing the both operational and financial performance to be "unsustainable".
[16]
In October 2019, the
Secretary of State for Transport
,
Grant Shapps
, issued a request for proposals to incumbent operator Arriva and the operator of last resort, which would result in termination of the franchise with either Arriva to be awarded a short-term
management contract
or the operator of last resort to take over.
[17]
In January 2020, Shapps publicly criticised Arriva's operation of the Northern franchise and suggested that the Government may step in to revoke its franchise agreement, bluntly referring to the service as "completely unacceptable".
[18]
On 29 January 2020, the DfT announced its decision to terminate Arriva Rail North as operator of the franchise, to be taken over by the DfT's operator of last resort.
[19]
[20]
[21]
This was the first time that a franchise has been removed from a train operating company due to poor performance since
Connex South Eastern
in 2003. On 1 March 2020, the franchise became directly operated by DfT OLR Holdings with the stated objective to "stabilise performance and restore reliability for passengers".
[22]
[23]
Changes and events
[
edit
]
By mid-2020, Northern had considerably curtailed its services in response to the significant decline of passenger travel amid the
COVID-19 pandemic
.
[24]
[25]
From 15 June 2020, both passengers and staff on public transport in England, including Northern services, were required to wear face coverings while travelling, and that anyone failing to do so would be liable to be refused travel or fined.
[26]
[27]
In 2021 Northern was given a contract by the
Department for Transport
to run services for three years, with an optional extension of a further two years.
[28]
The contract was updated in 2022, to run until 1 March 2025.
[2]
Northern is one of several train operators impacted by the
2022?2024 United Kingdom railway strikes
, which are the first national rail strikes in the UK for three decades.
[29]
Its workers are amongst those who voted to take industrial action due a dispute over pay and working conditions.
[30]
Northern urged the travelling public to avoid travelling on its services on any of the planned dates for the strikes, being only capable of operating a minimal timetable due to the number of staff involved.
[31]
[32]
Services
[
edit
]
Northern took over all the services operated by Arriva Rail North on 1 March 2020.
Table of off-peak services
[
edit
]
Below is a simplified list of frequent Monday to Saturday off-peak services, as of December 2023 timetables.
[33]
Due to the extensive nature of the network, it has been split by region, then majority rail line. One of the changes to the December timetable is the four trains per day service between Huddersfield and Castleford (which was frequently run as a bus rail replacement service), has been moved to
TransPennine Express
, and extended to start at
Manchester Piccadilly
, and run to
York
via
Castleford
.
[34]
North East
[
edit
]
Tyne Valley
,
Durham Coast
,
Esk Valley
Lines and
East Coast Main Line
|
Route
|
tph
|
Calling at
|
Carlisle
to
Newcastle
|
1
|
|
Carlisle to
Morpeth
|
1
|
- Wetheral
,
Brampton
(
1tp2h
), Haltwhistle,
Bardon Mill
(
1tp2h
),
Haydon Bridge
, Hexham, Prudhoe, MetroCentre, Newcastle,
Manors
,
Cramlington
|
Hexham to
Nunthorpe
|
1
|
- Corbridge
,
Riding Mill
,
Stocksfield
, Prudhoe,
Wylam
,
Blaydon
, MetroCentre,
Dunston
, Newcastle,
Heworth
,
Sunderland
,
Seaham
,
Horden
,
Hartlepool
,
Seaton Carew
,
Billingham
,
Stockton
,
Thornaby
,
Middlesbrough
,
James Cook University Hospital
,
Marton
,
Gypsy Lane
|
Middlesbrough to
Whitby
|
1
⁄
4
|
- James Cook University Hospital, Marton, Gypsy Lane, Nunthorpe,
Great Ayton
,
Battersby
,
Kildale
,
Commondale
,
Castleton Moor
,
Danby
,
Lealholm
,
Glaisdale
,
Egton
,
Grosmont
,
Sleights
,
Ruswarp
|
Darlington
to Newcastle
|
1
tpd
|
|
Tees Valley Line
|
Route
|
tph
|
Calling at
|
Saltburn
to
Darlington
|
1
|
|
Saltburn to
Bishop Auckland
|
1
|
- Marske, Longbeck, Redcar East, Redcar Central,
South Bank
, Middlesbrough, Thornaby, Eaglescliffe, Allens West, Dinsdale, Darlington,
North Road
,
Heighington
,
Newton Aycliffe
,
Shildon
|
North West
[
edit
]
Furness
,
Windermere
and
Cumbrian Coast lines
|
Route
|
tph
|
Calling at
|
Manchester Airport
to
Barrow-in-Furness
|
1
|
- Gatley
,
Manchester Piccadilly
,
Manchester Oxford Road
,
Deansgate
,
Bolton
,
Chorley
,
Preston
,
Lancaster
,
Carnforth
,
Silverdale
,
Arnside
,
Grange-over-Sands
,
Kents Bank
,
Cark
,
Ulverston
,
Dalton
,
Roose
- 4 trains per day each run as Manchester Airport to Windermere, and Lancaster to Carlisle, services instead.
|
Barrow-in-Furness to
Carlisle
|
1
|
- Askam
,
Kirkby-in-Furness
,
[a]
Foxfield
,
Green Road
,
[a]
Millom
,
Silecroft
,
[a]
Bootle
,
[a]
Ravenglass
,
Drigg
,
[a]
Seascale
,
Sellafield
,
St Bees
,
Corkickle
,
Whitehaven
,
Parton
,
[a]
Harrington
,
Workington
,
Flimby
,
[a]
Maryport
,
Aspatria
,
Wigton
,
Dalston
- 4 trains per day run as Lancaster to Carlisle services
|
Oxenholme Lake District
to
Windermere
|
1
|
- 4 trains per day run as Manchester Airport to Windermere services
|
Morecambe branch line
|
Route
|
tph
|
Calling at
|
Lancaster
to
Morecambe
|
1
|
Bare Lane
- Hourly service supplemented/modified by additional trains from
Leeds
.
- 1 train per day extends to
Heysham Port
.
|
Liverpool?Wigan
and
Blackpool branch lines
|
Route
|
tph
|
Calling at
|
Liverpool Lime Street
to
Wigan North Western
|
2
|
- Edge Hill
,
Wavertree Technology Park
,
Broad Green
,
Roby
,
Huyton
,
Prescot
,
Eccleston Park
,
Thatto Heath
,
St Helens Central
,
Garswood
,
Bryn
|
Liverpool Lime Street
to
Blackpool North
|
1
|
|
Manchester Airport
to Blackpool North
|
2
|
- Heald Green
(1tph),
Manchester Piccadilly
,
Manchester Oxford Road
,
Deansgate
,
Salford Crescent
,
Bolton
,
Lostock
,
Horwich Parkway
,
Blackrod
(1tph),
Adlington
(1tph),
Chorley
,
Buckshaw Parkway
, Leyland, Preston,
Kirkham & Wesham
, Poulton-le-Fylde,
Layton
(1tph)
|
Preston to
Blackpool South
|
1
|
|
East Lancashire
and
Ormskirk branch lines
|
Route
|
tph
|
Calling at
|
Preston
to
Colne
|
1
|
- Lostock Hall
,
Bamber Bridge
,
Pleasington
,
[a]
Cherry Tree
,
Mill Hill
,
Blackburn
,
Rishton
,
Church & Oswaldtwistle
,
Accrington
,
Huncoat
,
Hapton
,
[a]
Rose Grove
,
Burnley Barracks
,
[a]
Burnley Central
,
Brierfield
,
Nelson
|
Ormskirk
to Preston
|
1
|
|
Liverpool?Manchester lines
|
Route
|
tph
|
Calling at
|
Liverpool Lime Street
to
Manchester Oxford Road
|
1
|
- Edge Hill
,
Mossley Hill
,
West Allerton
,
Liverpool South Parkway
,
Hough Green
,
Warrington West
,
Warrington Central
,
Padgate
,
Birchwood
,
Glazebrook
(
1tp2h
),
Irlam
,
Flixton
,
Chassen Road
(
1tp2h
),
Urmston
,
Humphrey Park
(
1tp2h
),
Trafford Park
(
1tp2h
),
Deansgate
- Most trains either call at Glazebrook and Chassen Road or Humphrey Park and Trafford Park.
|
Liverpool Lime Street to Warrington Central
|
1
|
|
Liverpool Lime Street
to
Manchester Airport
|
1
|
- Edge Hill, Wavertree Technology Park, Broad Green, Roby, Huyton, Whiston, Rainhill, Lea Green, St Helens Junction, Earlestown,
Newton-le-Willows
,
Patricroft
,
Eccles
,
Deansgate
,
Manchester Oxford Road
,
Manchester Piccadilly
,
Mauldeth Road
,
Burnage
,
East Didsbury
,
Gatley
,
Heald Green
|
Warrington Bank Quay
to Liverpool Lime Street
|
1
tpd
|
|
Ellesmere Port
to
Helsby
|
2tpd
|
|
Crewe-Manchester
,
Mid-Cheshire
,
Stafford?Manchester
, and
Buxton lines
|
Route
|
tph
|
Calling at
|
Manchester Piccadilly
to
Crewe
|
1
|
- Mauldeth Road
,
Burnage
,
East Didsbury
,
Gatley
,
Heald Green
,
Manchester Airport
,
Styal
,
Wilmslow
,
Alderley Edge
,
Holmes Chapel
,
Sandbach
|
1
|
- Levenshulme
,
Heaton Chapel
,
Stockport
,
Cheadle Hulme
,
Handforth
, Wilmslow, Alderley Edge,
Chelford
,
Goostrey
, Holmes Chapel, Sandbach
|
Manchester Piccadilly to Alderley Edge
|
1
|
- Levenshulme, Heaton Chapel, Stockport, Cheadle Hulme, Handforth, Wilmslow
|
Manchester Piccadilly to
Chester
|
1
|
- Stockport,
Navigation Road
,
Altrincham
,
Hale
,
Ashley
,
Mobberley
,
Knutsford
,
Plumley
,
Lostock Gralam
,
Northwich
,
Greenbank
,
Cuddington
,
Delamere
,
Mouldsworth
|
Manchester Piccadilly
to
Stoke-on-Trent
|
1
|
|
Manchester Piccadilly
to
Buxton
|
1
|
- Levenshulme, Heaton Chapel, Stockport,
Davenport
,
Woodsmoor
,
Hazel Grove
,
Middlewood
(
1tp2h
),
Disley
,
New Mills Newtown
,
Furness Vale
,
Whaley Bridge
,
Chapel-en-le-Frith
,
Dove Holes
(
1tp2h
)
- Services either call at Middlewood or Dove Holes.
|
Manchester Piccadilly
to Hazel Grove
|
1
|
- Levenshulme, Heaton Chapel, Stockport, Davenport, Woodsmoor
|
Glossop
and
Hope Valley lines
|
Route
|
tph
|
Calling at
|
Manchester Piccadilly
to
Hadfield
|
2
|
|
Manchester Piccadilly to
Rose Hill Marple
|
4
⁄
3
|
|
Manchester Piccadilly to
New Mills Central
|
1
|
|
Manchester Piccadilly to
Sheffield
|
1
|
- Reddish North, Brinnington, Bredbury, Romiley, Marple, New Mills Central,
Chinley
,
Edale
,
Hope
,
Bamford
,
Hathersage
,
Grindleford
,
Dore & Totley
|
Manchester?Southport
and
Kirkby branch lines
|
Route
|
tph
|
Calling at
|
Southport
to
Manchester Oxford Road
|
1
|
- Meols Cop
,
Burscough Bridge
,
Parbold
,
Appley Bridge
,
Gathurst
,
Wigan Wallgate
,
Hindley
,
Westhoughton
,
Bolton
,
Salford Crescent
,
Deansgate
|
Southport
to
Stalybridge
|
1
|
- Meols Cop,
Bescar Lane
(
1tp2h
),
New Lane
(
1tp2h
), Burscough Bridge,
Hoscar
(
1tp2h
), Parbold, Appley Bridge, Gathurst, Wigan Wallgate, Hindley, Westhoughton, Bolton,
Moses Gate
,
Farnworth
,
Kearsley
,
Clifton
(1tpd), Salford Crescent,
Salford Central
,
Manchester Victoria
,
Ashton-under-Lyne
|
Headbolt Lane
to
Blackburn
|
1
|
- Rainford
,
Upholland
,
Orrell
,
Pemberton
,
Wigan Wallgate
,
Hindley
,
Daisy Hill
,
Hag Fold
,
Atherton
,
Walkden
,
Swinton
, Salford Crescent, Salford Central, Manchester Victoria,
Rochdale
,
Smithy Bridge
,
Littleborough
,
Todmorden
,
Burnley Manchester Road
,
Rose Grove
,
Accrington
|
Ribble Valley line
|
Route
|
tph
|
Calling at
|
Blackburn
to
Rochdale
|
1
|
|
Clitheroe
to Rochdale
|
1
|
- Whalley
,
Langho
,
Ramsgreave & Wilpshire
, Blackburn, Darwen,
Entwistle
, Bromley Cross, Hall i' th' Wood, Bolton, Salford Crescent, Salford Central, Manchester Victoria, Moston, Mills Hill, Castleton
|
Yorkshire and the Humber
[
edit
]
Huddersfield Line
|
Route
|
tph
|
Calling at
|
Bradford Interchange
to Huddersfield
|
1
|
|
Wharfedale
and
Airedale lines
|
Route
|
tph
|
Calling at
|
Leeds
to
Bradford Forster Square
|
2
|
|
Leeds to
Ilkley
|
2
|
|
Bradford Forster Square to Ilkley
|
2
|
- Frizinghall, Shipley,
Baildon
, Guiseley, Menston, Burley-in-Wharfedale, Ben Rhydding
|
Leeds to
Skipton
|
2
|
|
Bradford Forster Square to Skipton
|
2
|
- Frizinghall, Shipley, Saltaire, Bingley, Crossflatts, Keighley, Steeton & Silsden, Cononley
|
Harrogate Line
|
Route
|
tph
|
Calling at
|
Leeds
to
York
via
Harrogate
|
2
|
- Burley Park
,
Headingley
,
Horsforth
,
Weeton
,
Pannal
,
Hornbeam Park
,
Harrogate
,
Starbeck
,
Knaresborough
,
Cattal
,
Hammerton
,
Poppleton
|
Pontefract Line
|
Route
|
tph
|
Calling at
|
Leeds
to
Knottingley
via
Castleford
|
1
|
|
Leeds to Knottingley via
Streethouse
|
1
|
|
Wakefield Line
|
Route
|
tph
|
Calling at
|
Leeds
to
Doncaster
|
1
|
|
Leeds to
Sheffield
via Wakefield Westgate
|
1
|
- Outwood, Wakefield Westgate, Sandal & Agbrigg, Fitzwilliam,
Moorthorpe
,
Thurnscoe
,
Goldthorpe
,
Bolton-upon-Dearne
,
Swinton
,
Rotherham Central
,
Meadowhall
|
Penistone Line
|
Route
|
tph
|
Calling at
|
Sheffield
to
Huddersfield
|
1
|
- Meadowhall
,
Chapeltown
,
Elsecar
,
Wombwell
,
Barnsley
,
Dodworth
,
Silkstone Common
,
Penistone
,
Denby Dale
,
Shepley
,
Stocksmoor
,
Brockholes
,
Honley
,
Berry Brow
,
Lockwood
|
Hallam Line
|
Route
|
tph
|
Calling at
|
Leeds
to
Sheffield
via
Castleford
|
1
|
|
Leeds to
Nottingham
|
1
|
|
Sheffield?Lincoln line
|
Route
|
tph
|
Calling at
|
Leeds
to
Lincoln
|
1
|
- Wakefield Kirkgate
,
Barnsley
,
Meadowhall
,
Sheffield
,
Darnall
,
Woodhouse
,
Kiveton Bridge
,
Kiveton Park
,
Shireoaks
,
Worksop
,
Retford
,
Gainsborough Lea Road
,
Saxilby
|
Sheffield to
Cleethorpes
|
1
tpd
|
.
See
#Parliamentary services
below for more.
|
York and Selby Lines
|
Route
|
tph
|
Calling at
|
Leeds
to
York
via
Cross Gates
|
1
|
|
Halifax
to
Hull Paragon
|
1
|
- Bradford Interchange
,
New Pudsey
,
Bramley
, Leeds, Cross Gates, Garforth, East Garforth,
Micklefield
,
South Milford
,
Selby
,
Brough
|
South Humberside Main Line
,
Dearne Valley Line
and
Yorkshire Coast line
|
Route
|
tph
|
Calling at
|
Doncaster
to
Scunthorpe
|
1
⁄
2
|
|
Sheffield
to
Adwick
|
1
|
|
Sheffield to
York
|
3
tpd
|
|
Doncaster to Hull Paragon
|
1
|
|
Sheffield to
Scarborough
|
1
|
- Meadowhall, Doncaster, Goole, Brough, Hull Paragon,
Cottingham
,
Beverley
,
Driffield
,
Bridlington
,
Bempton
,
Hunmanby
,
Filey
,
Seamer
|
Bridlington to
York
|
1
|
- Nafferton
, Driffield,
Hutton Cranswick
, Beverley, Cottingham, Hull Paragon, Brough, Gilberdyke,
Howden
, Selby, Sherburn-in-Elmet (
1tp2h
), Church Fenton (
1tp2h
)
|
Settle to Carlisle
and
Leeds to Morecambe
|
Route
|
tph
|
Calling at
|
Leeds
to
Carlisle
|
1
⁄
2
|
- Shipley
,
Bingley
,
Keighley
,
Skipton
,
Hellifield
,
Settle
,
Horton in Ribblesdale
,
Ribblehead
,
Dent
,
Garsdale
,
Kirkby Stephen
,
Appleby
,
Langwathby
,
Lazonby & Kirkoswald
,
Armathwaite
|
Leeds to
Morecambe
|
1
⁄
2
|
- Shipley, Bingley, Keighley, Skipton,
Gargrave
, Hellifield,
Long Preston
,
Giggleswick
,
Clapham
,
Bentham
,
Wennington
,
Carnforth
,
Lancaster
,
Bare Lane
|
Calder Valley line
|
Route
|
tph
|
Calling at
|
York
to
Blackpool North
|
1
|
- Church Fenton
,
Garforth
,
Leeds
,
New Pudsey
,
Bradford Interchange
,
Halifax
,
Sowerby Bridge
,
Hebden Bridge
,
Burnley Manchester Road
,
Accrington
,
Blackburn
,
Preston
,
Kirkham & Wesham
,
Poulton-le-Fylde
|
Leeds to
Manchester Victoria
|
1
|
|
Leeds to
Wigan Wallgate
|
1
|
- Morley
,
Batley
,
Dewsbury
,
Ravensthorpe
,
Mirfield
,
Brighouse
, Sowerby Bridge,
Mytholmroyd
, Hebden Bridge, Todmorden,
Walsden
,
Littleborough
,
Smithy Bridge
, Rochdale, Manchester Victoria,
Salford Central
,
Salford Crescent
,
Swinton
,
Moorside
,
Walkden
,
Atherton
,
Hag Fold
,
Daisy Hill
,
Hindley
,
Ince
|
Leeds to
Chester
|
1
|
- Bramley, New Pudsey, Bradford Interchange,
Low Moor
, Halifax, Sowerby Bridge, Mytholmroyd, Hebden Bridge, Todmorden, Rochdale, Manchester Victoria,
Newton-le-Willows
,
Earlestown
,
Warrington Bank Quay
|
Parliamentary services
[
edit
]
Twice weekly on Saturday mornings, once in each direction, Northern operates a parliamentary train on the
Stockport?Stalybridge line
between
Stockport
and
Stalybridge
calling at
Reddish South
,
Denton
, and
Guide Bridge
.
[35]
[36]
From 1992 until 2018, this service ran once weekly.
[37]
Multiple campaigns were conducted to request increase in services to the line,
[38]
but in 2022,
Transport for Greater Manchester
published two surveys in relation to the line.
[39]
As of May 2023, there is one train per day between
Sheffield
and
Cleethorpes
, via
Gainsborough Central
and
Brigg
. This service runs on weekdays only.
[40]
The service was suspended between January and October 2022 due to concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
[41]
Between October 1993 and May 2023, this service ran on Saturdays only, but had three trains each way and on weekdays, a few peak services terminated at
Gainsborough Central
.
Rolling stock
[
edit
]
Northern took over all of the rolling stock operated by its predecessor, namely Class
142
,
144
,
150
,
153
,
155
,
156
,
158
,
170
and
195
diesel multiple units
and Class
319
,
321
,
322
,
323
,
331
and
333
electric multiple units
. All Class 321 and 322 units were withdrawn in mid-2020 and moved to
Greater Anglia
.
[42]
All Class 153s were sent to storage by December 2021.
[43]
23
Class 156
units were transferred from
East Midlands Railway
, which includes eight of the nine Class 156/9 units formerly used by Greater Anglia,
[44]
although they were renumbered back to 156/4s before the transfer.
[45]
For the December timetable change in 2022, five more Class 156 units were transferred.
[46]
The final Class 156 units were delivered in May 2023.
[47]
The Class 319s were withdrawn on 2 January 2024.
[48]
Current fleet
[
edit
]
Family
|
Class
|
Image
|
Type
|
Top speed
|
Number
|
Carriages
|
Routes
|
Built
|
mph
|
km/h
|
Diesel multiple units
|
Sprinter
|
150
|
|
DMU
|
75
|
121
|
6
[49]
|
3
|
Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Liverpool, West Yorkshire, North Lincolnshire, South Yorkshire and Derbyshire
[50]
|
1984?1987
|
|
69
[49]
|
2
|
1985?1987
|
|
155
Super Sprinter
|
|
7
[28]
|
2
|
York, Leeds, Hull Paragon and Scarborough
[50]
|
1987?1988
|
|
156
Super Sprinter
|
|
66
[4]
|
2
|
North East, Cumbrian Coast, Lancashire and Cumbria, Merseyside and Cheshire
[50]
|
1987?1989
|
|
158
Express Sprinter
|
|
90
|
145
|
45
[49]
|
2
|
South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, Lancashire, Fylde Coast, North Yorkshire and the North East
[50]
|
1990?1992
|
8
[49]
|
3
|
|
Bombardier Turbostar
|
170
|
|
100
|
161
|
16
[28]
|
3
|
Scarborough - Sheffield, Leeds - York via Harrogate
[50]
|
2003?2005
|
|
CAF Civity
|
195
|
|
25
[4]
|
2
|
Manchester - Derbyshire, Sheffield, Liverpool, Leeds and Barrow in Furness, York - Blackpool, Windermere and Chester - Leeds
[50]
|
2017?2020
|
33
[4]
|
3
|
|
|
|
Electric multiple units
|
Hunslet Transportation Projects
/Holec
[51]
|
323
|
|
EMU
|
90
|
145
|
20
[49]
|
3
|
Manchester-Hadfield, Manchester-Stoke-on-Trent, Manchester-Crewe, and Liverpool-Manchester Airport
[50]
|
1992?1995
|
|
CAF Civity
|
331
|
|
100
|
161
|
31
[4]
|
3
|
Blackpool North - Manchester Airport, Liverpool, Leeds - Skipton, Bradford Forster Square, Doncaster, Ilkley, Bradford Forster Square - Skipton, Ilkley
|
2017?2020
|
12
[4]
|
4
|
Electric services in the North West.
[52]
|
|
|
CAF
/
Siemens Transportation Systems
|
333
|
|
16
[28]
|
4
|
Leeds - Bradford Forster Square, Skipton, Ilkley,
Bradford Forster Square - Skipton, Ilkley
|
2000?2003
|
|
|
Bi-mode multiple units
|
BR Second Generation (
Mark 3
)
|
769
Flex
|
|
BMU
|
100
|
161
|
8
[53]
|
4
|
Southport
-
Manchester Oxford Road
and
Stalybridge
|
2017?2020 (1987?1988 as Class 319)
|
|
Future fleet
[
edit
]
In August 2023, Northern issued a tender to acquire a contract for up to 450 new trains to replace the older rolling stock in their fleet.
[54]
In 2024 Northern issued a tender for up to 329 new trains.
[49]
17 Class 323s are to be transferred from
West Midlands Trains
.
[55]
[56]
Class
|
Image
|
Type
|
Top speed
|
Number
|
Carriages
|
Routes
|
Built
|
In service
|
mph
|
km/h
|
Electric multiple units
|
323
[57]
|
|
EMU
|
90
|
145
|
17
|
3
|
Electrified commuter services in Greater Manchester, Cheshire, Staffordshire, Derbyshire and Merseyside
|
1992?1995
|
2024
[58]
|
|
Past fleet
[
edit
]
Former train types operated by Northern include:
Depots
[
edit
]
Northern currently has depots for its train crew at
Barrow-in-Furness
,
[59]
Blackburn
,
[59]
Blackpool North
,
Buxton
,
Carlisle
,
Darlington
[59]
(drivers),
Doncaster
,
Harrogate
,
Huddersfield
,
Hull Paragon
,
Liverpool Lime Street
,
Leeds
,
[59]
Manchester Piccadilly
,
Manchester Victoria
,
[60]
Middlesbrough
(conductors),
Newcastle
,
[59]
Sheffield
,
Skipton
,
Wigan Wallgate
,
Workington
[59]
and
York
.
[59]
Northern's fleet is maintained at depots listed in the table below:
Depot
|
Allocation
|
Servicing
|
Nearest station
|
Allerton TMD
|
08
,
323
,
[61]
331
,
769
|
150
,
156
,
195
|
Liverpool South Parkway
|
Blackburn King Street TMD
|
None
|
150
,
156
,
195
|
Blackburn
|
Botanic Gardens TMD
|
170
[60]
|
155
,
158
|
Hull Paragon
|
Heaton TMD
|
156
,
158
|
|
Manors
|
Holbeck TMD
|
None
|
150
,
158
,
195
|
Leeds
|
Newton Heath TMD
|
150
,
156
,
195
|
158
,
769
|
Moston
|
Neville Hill TMD
|
08
,
150
,
155
,
158
,
170
,
331
,
333
[62]
|
195
|
Leeds
|
Wigan Springs Branch TMD
|
None
|
158
,
195
,
331
,
769
|
Wigan North Western
|
References
[
edit
]
- ^
"National Rail Enquiries - Northern"
.
www.nationalrail.co.uk
. Retrieved
22 July
2021
.
- ^
a
b
"DfT OLR Holdings Limited and Northern Trains Limited 2022: services contract"
(PDF)
. Department for Transport. 24 February 2022
. Retrieved
2 February
2023
.
- ^
"About Northern"
.
www.northernrailway.co.uk
. Retrieved
22 July
2021
.
- ^
a
b
c
d
e
f
Ford, Rodger (November 2023). "Northern train requirements short on detail". Informed Sources.
Modern Railways
. No. 902. pp. 30?31.
- ^
Clifton, Paul (19 April 2023). "What customers want has changed".
Rail Magazine
. No. 981. pp. 24?27.
- ^
"Northern Trains Limited"
. Companies House.
Archived
from the original on 24 December 2020
. Retrieved
4 October
2020
.
- ^
"Northern and TransPennine Express franchises awarded"
.
Railway Gazette International
. 9 December 2015.
- ^
"Arriva and First win franchises with 500 new carriages promise".
The Railway Magazine
. No. 1378. January 2016. p. 6.
- ^
Calder, Simon (21 May 2018).
"Passenger fury at Northern Rail as train chaos hits Blackpool, Bolton and Manchester Airport on first day of new timetable"
.
The Independent
. Retrieved
21 May
2018
.
- ^
"
'Unacceptable #NorthernFail' ? the travel chaos passengers faced on first working day of new Northern timetable"
.
Manchester Evening News
. 21 May 2018
. Retrieved
21 May
2018
.
- ^
"Northern is a disaster. Why have commuters been left to face it alone?"
.
The Guardian
. 21 September 2018.
- ^
"Rail network 'crippling the North': Leeds commuter's angry open letter about life as a Northern passenger"
.
Yorkshire Post
. 14 October 2018.
- ^
Paton, Graeme (16 October 2018).
"Manchester Oxford Road station is worst for delays"
.
The Times
.
- ^
"UK's railway stations with most train delays revealed"
.
BBC News
. 16 October 2018.
- ^
Gill, Oliver (4 November 2018).
"German rail giant seeks help to prop up UK arm that owns Northern franchise"
.
The Telegraph
. Retrieved
6 November
2018
.
- ^
"Northern rail operator faces end of the line"
.
The Times
. 2 June 2019
. Retrieved
4 August
2019
.
- ^
"Northern franchise to end within months".
Modern Railways
. No. 857. February 2020. p. 8.
- ^
Syal, Rajeev; Topham, Gwyn (2 January 2020).
"Northern rail to be stripped of franchise, says Grant Shapps"
.
The Guardian
.
ISSN
0261-3077
. Retrieved
2 January
2020
.
- ^
"Northern rail to be stripped of franchise, says Grant Shapps"
.
The Guardian
. 2 January 2020.
- ^
"Northern rail to be renationalised ? and some Beeching closures could reopen"
.
The Guardian
. 27 January 2020.
- ^
"Ministers set to renationalise failed Northern rail franchise"
.
Financial Times
. 28 January 2020.
- ^
"Rail firm Northern to be put into public ownership"
.
BBC News
. 29 January 2020
. Retrieved
29 January
2020
.
- ^
"Customer Information"
. Northern OLR Holdings. 30 January 2020. Archived from
the original
on 29 February 2020
. Retrieved
30 January
2020
.
Q: What are Northern Trains Limited's plans for the franchise? Our initial priority is to continue to stabilise performance across the region and restore reliability for customers. We will then explore opportunities to improve the experience for customers.
- ^
"Coronavirus: Rail franchise agreements suspended to avoid company collapses"
. Sky News. 23 March 2020.
Archived
from the original on 27 May 2020
. Retrieved
23 March
2020
.
- ^
Osborne, Samuel (27 December 2021).
"COVID-19: Christmas travel disruption as Omicron hits rail and airline staffing"
. news.sky.com.
- ^
"Transport Secretary's statement on coronavirus (COVID-19): 4 June 2020"
.
GOV.UK
. 4 June 2020.
Archived
from the original on 23 June 2020
. Retrieved
21 June
2020
.
- ^
Paton, Graeme.
"Coronavirus: facemask plans mired in confusion"
.
The Times
.
Archived
from the original on 21 June 2020
. Retrieved
21 June
2020
.
- ^
a
b
c
d
"Northern's commitment to transformation".
Modern Railways
. No. 893. Stamford: Key Publishing. February 2023. pp. 62?67.
- ^
"Rail strike: RMT union votes for national action"
.
BBC News
. 24 May 2022
. Retrieved
24 May
2022
.
- ^
Finnis, Alex (20 June 2022).
"The dates of the train, Tube and bus strikes this week, and how services will be affected"
.
i
.
London
:
Daily Mail & General Trust
. Retrieved
24 June
2022
.
- ^
Stubbings, David.
"When are the rail strikes? Dates and lines affected in the Black Country and Staffordshire"
.
Express and Star
.
Wolverhampton
:
MNA Media
. Retrieved
24 June
2022
.
- ^
Clark, Kevin (13 June 2022).
"RAIL STRIKE: Northern Rail urges customers NOT to travel during week of RMT action"
.
Sunderland Echo
.
Sunderland
:
National World
.
- ^
"Timetables Change"
.
northernrailway.co.uk
. Northern Trains
. Retrieved
21 December
2023
.
- ^
Stone, Mike (January 2024). "The new December timetable".
Today's Railways
. No. 263. Sheffield: Platform 5. p. 35.
ISSN
1475-9713
.
- ^
Halle-Richards, Sophie (16 July 2022).
"Greater Manchester town with gridlocked traffic and trains only twice a week"
.
Manchester Evening News
. Retrieved
12 December
2022
.
- ^
Wilkinson, Damon (3 December 2022).
"Greater Manchester 'ghost station' has only ONE passenger a week"
.
Manchester Evening News
. Retrieved
12 December
2022
.
- ^
"Ghost train in reverse gear"
.
Manchester Evening News
. 15 February 2007
. Retrieved
12 December
2022
.
- ^
Kirby, Dean (30 April 2013).
"
'We won't give up the ghost' on Denton station with 30 passengers a year"
.
Manchester Evening News
. Retrieved
12 December
2022
.
- ^
"New surveys launched in bid to help improve local rail connections"
.
Quest Media Network
. Retrieved
12 December
2022
.
- ^
"Timetable change | May 2023"
.
Northern Trains
. Retrieved
5 May
2023
.
- ^
"Brigg rail service from Sheffield to Cleethorpes makes comeback after outcry"
.
GrimsbyLive
. 24 October 2022
. Retrieved
17 December
2022
.
- ^
"Northern finishes with Dusty Bins".
Railways Illustrated
. July 2020. p. 16.
- ^
a
b
"Northern and East Midlands Railway Class 153 fleets stood down".
Rail Express
. No. February 2022. p. 26.
- ^
"More 156s for Northern".
Modern Railways
. No. 870. March 2021. p. 87.
- ^
"Fleet Analysis (Northern)".
Railways Illustrated
. No. 230. April 2022. p. 50.
- ^
"Class 156 'Super Sprinter'
". Units.
Rail Express
. No. 319. December 2022. p. 27.
- ^
"EMR stands down '180s' and '156s".
Rail Magazine
. No. 984. 31 May 2023. p. 23.
- ^
a
b
c
Miles, Tony (February 2024). "
'319s' finish with Northern". Moving Wheels.
Modern Railways
. No. 905. p. 87.
- ^
a
b
c
d
e
f
Dunn, Pip (29 May 2024). "Northern invites tenders for up to 329 new trains". Network News.
Rail Magazine
. No. 1010. pp. 20?21.
- ^
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
"Train Types"
.
www.northernrailway.co.uk
.
Archived
from the original on 19 April 2021
. Retrieved
3 January
2020
.
- ^
"Hunslet has had enough of 'misery line' battles"
.
Birmingham Post
. 23 March 1994. p. 3
. Retrieved
23 September
2022
.
- ^
Russell, David (January 2024). "Class 331". Units.
Rail Express
. No. 332. p. 23.
- ^
"Class 769 fleets".
Today's Railways UK
. No. 242. April 2022. p. 35.
- ^
"SUPPLY OF NEW ROLLING STOCK AND MAINTENANCE SUPPORT SERVICES - Find a Tender"
.
www.find-tender.service.gov.uk
. Retrieved
12 August
2023
.
- ^
"Class 323 EMUs to remain in traffic with Northern".
Rail
. No. 886. 28 August 2019. p. 30.
- ^
"First refurbished Class 323 for Northern".
Railways Illustrated
. January 2020. p. 9.
- ^
"Northern to retain 323s"
.
Modern Railways
. 15 August 2019
. Retrieved
15 August
2019
.
- ^
"West Midlands Trains turns back the clock with retro repaint for Class 323".
Today's Railways Uk
. No. 252. February 2023. p. 55.
- ^
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
"Northern announces significant driver and conductor recruitment plans". News.
Railways Illustrated
. No. 256. 1 June 2024. p. 11.
- ^
a
b
Sherrat, Philip (April 2024). "Northern builds for the future".
Modern Railways
. Vol. 81, no. 907. pp. 66?70.
- ^
"Class 323 EMUs to remain in traffic with Northern".
Rail
. No. 886. August 2019. p. 30.
- ^
Pickering, Graeme (May 2024). "Neville Hill
125 years old and still evolving".
The Railway Magazine
. Vol. 170, no. 1478. pp. 47?51.
External links
[
edit
]
Preceded by
|
Operator of Northern franchise
2020 -
|
Succeeded by
Incumbent
|
|
---|
|
|
---|
National
| |
---|
International
| |
---|
Sub-brands
| |
---|
|
|
|
|
|
---|
Future operators
| |
---|
Prospective operators
| |
---|
|
|
|