Northern (train operating company)

Northern (train operating company)
GerriitJan · CC0 · source
Name	Northern
Type	Train operating company
Franchise	Not subject to franchise; directly operated by Department for Transport via Operator of last resort
Area	North of England
Start	1 April 2016
Predecessor	Northern Rail, First TransPennine Express (local services)
Stations	476
Parent	DfT OLR Holdings
Website	https://www.northernrailway.co.uk/

Northern (train operating company). Operating as Northern Trains, it is a government-owned train operating company providing local, commuter, and regional rail services across the North of England. It was formed in April 2016, taking over the previous Northern Rail franchise and some local services from First TransPennine Express. The company operates one of the largest networks in the United Kingdom, serving major cities like Leeds, Manchester, Liverpool, Newcastle upon Tyne, and Sheffield, and was brought into public ownership in March 2020.

History

The current Northern entity commenced operations on 1 April 2016, following the award of the Northern franchise to the Arriva UK Trains subsidiary Arriva Rail North by the Department for Transport. This franchise consolidated the previous Northern Rail operations with the slower, local services previously run by First TransPennine Express. The franchise was heavily impacted by widespread industrial action led by the RMT and ASLEF unions over issues including guard-operated doors and working conditions, leading to severe and prolonged disruption. Following persistent operational and financial difficulties, the Secretary of State for Transport terminated the franchise agreement, and the company was taken into public ownership on 1 March 2020, being managed by the government's Operator of last resort under the holding company DfT OLR Holdings.

Services

Northern operates an extensive network of over 2,500 daily services, connecting hundreds of destinations across the counties of Yorkshire, the North West, North East England, and the East Midlands. Key routes include the busy commuter corridors around West Yorkshire and Greater Manchester, such as the Airedale and Calder Valley lines, as well as longer regional services like those between Leeds and Carlisle on the Settle–Carlisle line. The company also provides vital links to airports including Manchester Airport and Leeds Bradford Airport, and manages a vast portfolio of 476 stations, many of which are unstaffed halts.

Rolling stock

The operator's fleet has undergone significant modernization since 2016. Historically reliant on aging British Rail-era diesel multiple units like the Pacer and Sprinter families, Northern introduced a large number of new trains as part of its franchise commitments. This included the introduction of Class 195 diesel and Class 331 electric multiple units built by CAF. The final Pacer units were withdrawn from service in 2020. The current fleet mix also includes refurbished Class 150, Class 156, and Class 158 Sprinters, alongside Class 333 electric units on North TransPennine routes.

Performance and criticism

Northern's performance has been subject to sustained criticism from passengers, politicians, and transport watchdogs. The period from 2018 to 2020 was particularly challenging, with the implementation of a new timetable in May 2018 leading to catastrophic disruption and thousands of cancelled services, prompting an official inquiry by the Office of Rail and Road. The company's reputation was further damaged by the extensive rail strikes over guard-operated doors and the high prevalence of pre-2020 cancellations. Although operational performance stabilized somewhat after the move to public ownership, issues such as short-term cancellations, aging infrastructure managed by Network Rail, and customer satisfaction levels have remained focal points for criticism from bodies like Transport Focus.

Future developments

Future developments for Northern are closely tied to the wider rail transformation agenda and the government's Integrated Rail Plan for the North and Midlands. Key projects anticipated to benefit its services include the completion of the Great North Rail Project, elements of Northern Powerhouse Rail, and the ongoing electrification of routes such as the Transpennine route upgrade between York and Manchester. The company is also expected to continue its fleet modernization program and station improvement schemes, with strategic direction falling under the purview of the public sector operator, DfT OLR Holdings, and oversight from the Department for Transport and local transport authorities like Transport for the North.

Category:Train operating companies of England Category:Rail transport in Yorkshire Category:Department for Transport Category:Companies based in Manchester Category:2020 establishments in the United Kingdom