Northern Trains

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

A Northern Class 331 in November 2023 at Stoke-on-Trent

Overview
Franchise(s)| Northern
Main region(s)|

* North East
* North West
* Yorkshire and the Humber

Other region(s)|

* East Midlands
* West Midlands

Fleet size| 368[4]
Stations called at| 474[5]
Parent company| DfT OLR Holdings
Headquarters| York[3]
Reporting mark| NT[1]
Dates of operation| 1 March 2020 (2020-03-01) - 1 March 2025 (2025-03-01)[2]
Predecessor| Arriva Rail North
Other
Website| www.northernrailway.co.uk

Route map

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 affected 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 affected 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 |

* Haltwhistle, Hexham, Prudhoe, MetroCentre

Carlisle to Morpeth | 1 |

* Wetheral, Brampton (1tp2h), Haltwhistle, Bardon Mill (1tp2h), Haydon Bridge, Hexham, Prudhoe, MetroCentre, Newcastle, Manors, Cramlington

* Trains either serve Brampton, or Bardon Mill
* 2 trains per day continue to Chathill, calling at Pegswood, Widdrington, Acklington and Alnmouth

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 | 1tpd |

* Durham, Chester-le-Street

Tees Valley Line
Route | tph | Calling at
Saltburn to Darlington | 1 |

* Marske, Longbeck, Redcar East, Redcar Central, Middlesbrough, Thornaby, Eaglescliffe, Allens West, Dinsdale

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 |

* Kendal, Burneside, Staveley

* 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 |

* Huyton, St Helens Central, Wigan North Western, Euxton Balshaw Lane, Leyland, Preston, Poulton-le-Fylde

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 |

* Salwick (3tpd), Kirkham & Wesham, Moss Side, Lytham, Ansdell & Fairhaven, St Annes-on-the-Sea, Squires Gate, Blackpool Pleasure Beach

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 |

* Burscough Junction, Rufford, Croston

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 |

* Mossley Hill, West Allerton, Liverpool South Parkway, Hunts Cross, Halewood, Hough Green, Widnes, Sankey for Penketh (2tpd), Warrington West

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 | 1tpd |

* Earlestown, St Helens Junction, Lea Green, Rainhill, Whiston, Huyton, Roby, Broad Green, Wavertree Technology Park, Edge Hill

* westbound only

Ellesmere Port to Helsby | 2tpd |

* Ince & Elton

* 1 train per day continues to Warrington Bank Quay, calling at Frodsham and Runcorn East.

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 |

* Stockport, Cheadle Hulme, Bramhall, Poynton, Adlington, Prestbury, Macclesfield, Congleton, Kidsgrove

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 |

* Ardwick (1tpd westbound only), Ashburys, Guide Bridge, Flowery Field, Newton for Hyde, Godley, Hattersley, Broadbottom, Dinting, Glossop

Manchester Piccadilly to Rose Hill Marple | 4⁄3 |

* Gorton, Fairfield, Guide Bridge, Hyde North, Hyde Central, Woodley, Romiley

Manchester Piccadilly to New Mills Central | 1 |

* Ashburys, Belle Vue, Ryder Brow, Reddish North, Brinnington, Bredbury, Romiley, Marple, Strines

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 |

* Darwen, Bromley Cross, Hall i' th' Wood, Bolton, Salford Crescent, Salford Central, Manchester Victoria, Moston, Mills Hill, Castleton

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 |

* Low Moor, Halifax, Brighouse

Wharfedale and Airedale lines
Route | tph | Calling at
Leeds to Bradford Forster Square | 2 |

* Kirkstall Forge, Apperley Bridge, Shipley, Frizinghall

Leeds to Ilkley | 2 |

* Kirkstall Forge, Guiseley, Menston, Burley-in-Wharfedale, Ben Rhydding

Bradford Forster Square to Ilkley | 2 |

* Frizinghall, Shipley, Baildon, Guiseley, Menston, Burley-in-Wharfedale, Ben Rhydding

Leeds to Skipton | 2 |

* Shipley, Saltaire, Bingley, Crossflatts, Keighley, Steeton & Silsden, Cononley

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 |

* Woodlesford, Castleford, Glasshoughton, Pontefract Monkhill

* 2 trains per day extend to Goole, calling at Whitley Bridge, Hensall, Snaith and Rawcliffe.

Leeds to Knottingley via Streethouse | 1 |

* Wakefield Westgate, Wakefield Kirkgate, Streethouse, Featherstone, Pontefract Tanshelf, Pontefract Monkhill

Wakefield Line
Route | tph | Calling at
Leeds to Doncaster | 1 |

* Outwood, Wakefield Westgate, Sandal & Agbrigg, Fitzwilliam, South Elmsall, Adwick, Bentley

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 |

* Woodlesford, Castleford, Normanton, Wakefield Kirkgate, Darton, Barnsley, Wombwell, Elsecar, Chapeltown, Meadowhall

Leeds to Nottingham | 1 |

* Wakefield Kirkgate, Barnsley, Meadowhall, Sheffield, Dronfield, Chesterfield, Alfreton, Langley Mill, Ilkeston

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 | 1tpd |

* Worksop, Retford, Gainsborough Central, Kirton Lindsey, Brigg, Barnetby, Grimsby Town

See #Parliamentary services below for more.
York and Selby Lines
Route | tph | Calling at
Leeds to York via Cross Gates | 1 |

* Cross Gates, Garforth, East Garforth, Micklefield

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 |

* Kirk Sandall, Hatfield & Stainforth, Thorne South, Crowle, Althorpe

Sheffield to Adwick | 1 |

* Meadowhall, Rotherham Central, Swinton, Mexborough, Conisbrough, Doncaster, Bentley

Sheffield to York | 3tpd |

* Meadowhall, Rotherham Central, Swinton, Moorthorpe, Pontefract Baghill, Sherburn-in-Elmet, Church Fenton, Ulleskelf

Doncaster to Hull Paragon | 1 |

* Kirk Sandall, Hatfield & Stainforth, Thorne North, Goole, Saltmarshe (1tp2h), Gilberdyke, Broomfleet (1tp2h), Brough, Ferriby, Hessle

* Most services call at either Saltmarshe or Broomfleet.

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 |

* Bramley, New Pudsey, Bradford Interchange, Halifax, Hebden Bridge, Todmorden, Rochdale

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

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Request stop

### Parliamentary services

[edit]

Main article: Parliamentary train

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]

Between October 2023 and July 2024 17 Class 323 units were transferred from West Midlands Trains to Northern Trains.[49][50]

### 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[51] | 3  | Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Liverpool, West Yorkshire, North Lincolnshire, South Yorkshire and Derbyshire[52] | 1984–1987
| 69[51] | 2  | 1985–1987
155 Super Sprinter |  | 7[28] | 2  | York, Leeds, Hull Paragon and Scarborough[52] | 1987–1988
156 Super Sprinter |  | 66[4] | 2  | North East, Cumbrian Coast, Lancashire and Cumbria, Merseyside and Cheshire[52] | 1987–1989
158 Express Sprinter |  | 90  | 145  | 45[51] | 2  | South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, Lancashire, Fylde Coast, North Yorkshire and the North East[52] | 1990–1992
8[51] | 3
Bombardier Turbostar | 170 |  | 100  | 161  | 16[28] | 3  | Scarborough - Sheffield, Leeds - York via Harrogate[52] | 2003–2005
CAF Civity | 195 |  | 25[4] | 2  | Manchester - Derbyshire, Sheffield, Liverpool, Leeds and Barrow in Furness, York - Blackpool, Windermere and Chester - Leeds[52] | 2017–2020
33[4] | 3
| Electric multiple units
Hunslet Transportation Projects/Holec[53] | 323 |  | EMU | 90  | 145  | 34[54] | 3  | Manchester-Hadfield, Manchester-Stoke-on-Trent, Manchester-Crewe, and Liverpool-Manchester Airport[52] | 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.[55]
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[56] | 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.[57]

In 2024 Northern issued a tender for up to 329 new trains.[51]

### Past fleet

[edit]

Former train types operated by Northern include:

Class  | Image  | Type  | Top speed  | Number  | Carriages  | Routes  | Notes  | Built  | Left fleet

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

mph  | km/h
142 Pacer |  | DMU | 75  | 121  | 79  | 2  | Local and commuter

services across the North

Replaced by Class 150, Class 156, Class 158, Class 170, and Class 195 units.

| 1985–1987 | 2020
144 Pacer |  | 23  | 1986–1987
153 Super Sprinter |  | 17  | 1  | Replaced by Class 150 units, later sent to storage[43] | 1987–1988  | 2020–2021
Class 319/3 |  | EMU | 100  | 161  | 19  | 4  | Electrified commuter

services in the North West

| Replaced by Class 331 units.[48] | 1990  | 2024[48]
321 |  | 3  | Electrified commuter

services in West Yorkshire

| Replaced by Class 331 units  | 1991  | 2020
322 |  | 5  | 1990

## Depots

[edit]

This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (May 2021) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

|

Northern currently has depots for its train crew at Ashington (conductors),[58] 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]

1. ^ "National Rail Enquiries - Northern". www.nationalrail.co.uk. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
2. ^ a b "DfT OLR Holdings Limited and Northern Trains Limited 2022: services contract" (PDF). Department for Transport. 24 February 2022. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
3. ^ "About Northern". www.northernrailway.co.uk. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
4. ^ 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.
5. ^ Clifton, Paul (19 April 2023). "What customers want has changed". Rail Magazine. No. 981\. pp. 24–27.
6. ^ "Northern Trains Limited". Companies House. Archived from the original on 24 December 2020. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
7. ^ "Northern and TransPennine Express franchises awarded". Railway Gazette International. 9 December 2015. Archived from the original on 29 January 2020. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
8. ^ "Arriva and First win franchises with 500 new carriages promise". The Railway Magazine. No. 1378\. January 2016. p. 6.
9. ^ 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.
10. ^ "'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.
11. ^ "Northern is a disaster. Why have commuters been left to face it alone?". The Guardian. 21 September 2018.
12. ^ "Rail network 'crippling the North': Leeds commuter's angry open letter about life as a Northern passenger". Yorkshire Post. 14 October 2018.
13. ^ Paton, Graeme (16 October 2018). "Manchester Oxford Road station is worst for delays". The Times.
14. ^ "UK's railway stations with most train delays revealed". BBC News. 16 October 2018.
15. ^ 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.
16. ^ "Northern rail operator faces end of the line". The Times. 2 June 2019. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
17. ^ "Northern franchise to end within months". Modern Railways. No. 857\. February 2020. p. 8.
18. ^ 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.
19. ^ "Northern rail to be stripped of franchise, says Grant Shapps". The Guardian. 2 January 2020.
20. ^ "Northern rail to be renationalised – and some Beeching closures could reopen". The Guardian. 27 January 2020.
21. ^ "Ministers set to renationalise failed Northern rail franchise". Financial Times. 28 January 2020.
22. ^ "Rail firm Northern to be put into public ownership". BBC News. 29 January 2020. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
23. ^ "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."
24. ^ "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.
25. ^ Osborne, Samuel (27 December 2021). "COVID-19: Christmas travel disruption as Omicron hits rail and airline staffing". news.sky.com.
26. ^ "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.
27. ^ Paton, Graeme. "Coronavirus: facemask plans mired in confusion". The Times. Archived from the original on 21 June 2020. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
28. ^ a b c d "Northern's commitment to transformation". Modern Railways. No. 893\. Stamford: Key Publishing. February 2023. pp. 62–67.
29. ^ "Rail strike: RMT union votes for national action". BBC News. 24 May 2022. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
30. ^ 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.
31. ^ 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.
32. ^ Clark, Kevin (13 June 2022). "RAIL STRIKE: Northern Rail urges customers NOT to travel during week of RMT action". Sunderland Echo. Sunderland: National World.
33. ^ "Timetables Change". northernrailway.co.uk. Northern Trains. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
34. ^ Stone, Mike (January 2024). "The new December timetable". Today's Railways. No. 263\. Sheffield: Platform 5. p. 35\. ISSN 1475-9713.
35. ^ 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.
36. ^ Wilkinson, Damon (3 December 2022). "Greater Manchester 'ghost station' has only ONE passenger a week". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
37. ^ "Ghost train in reverse gear". Manchester Evening News. 15 February 2007. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
38. ^ 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.
39. ^ "New surveys launched in bid to help improve local rail connections". Quest Media Network. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
40. ^ "Timetable change | May 2023". Northern Trains. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
41. ^ "Brigg rail service from Sheffield to Cleethorpes makes comeback after outcry". GrimsbyLive. 24 October 2022. Retrieved 17 December 2022.
42. ^ "Northern finishes with Dusty Bins". Railways Illustrated. July 2020. p. 16.
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44. ^ "More 156s for Northern". Moving Wheels. Modern Railways. Vol. 78, no. 870\. March 2021. p. 87.
45. ^ Clinnick, Richard (April 2022). "Fleet Analysis (Northern)". Railways Illustrated. No. 230\. p. 50.
46. ^ Russell, David (December 2022). "Class 156 'Super Sprinter'". Units. Rail Express. No. 319\. p. 27.
47. ^ "EMR stands down '180s' and '156s". Rail Magazine. No. 984\. 31 May 2023. p. 23.
48. ^ a b c Miles, Tony (February 2024). "'319s' finish with Northern". Moving Wheels. Modern Railways. No. 905\. p. 87.
49. ^ Dunn, Pip (15 November 2023). "West Midlands Trains sends its first '323' to Northern". Rail Magazine. No. 996\. p. 22.
50. ^ Russell, David (September 2024). "Cross-City '730' workings Increase". Units. Rail Express. No. 340\. p. 22.
51. ^ a b c d e Dunn, Pip (29 May 2024). "Northern invites tenders for up to 329 new trains". Network News. Rail Magazine. No. 1010\. pp. 20–21.
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53. ^ "Hunslet has had enough of 'misery line' battles". Birmingham Post. 23 March 1994. p. 3. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
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## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Northern Trains.

* Official website

Preceded by

Arriva Rail North

|  Operator of Northern franchise
2020–present  |  Succeeded by

Incumbent

|
|

* v
* t
* e

Train operating companies in the United Kingdom

* Rail transport in Great Britain
* Rail transport in Northern Ireland
* Passenger rail franchising in Great Britain

Current

| National|

* Arriva Rail London
* London Overground
* Avanti West Coast
* c2c
* Caledonian Sleeper4
* Chiltern Railways
* CrossCountry
* East Midlands Railway
* Elizabeth line
* Govia Thameslink Railway
* Grand Central2
* Greater Anglia
* Great Western Railway
* Heathrow Express
* Hull Trains2
* London North Eastern Railway1
* Lumo2
* Merseyrail
* NI Railways3
* Northern1
* ScotRail4
* Southeastern1
* South Western Railway
* TransPennine Express1
* Transport for Wales1
* West Midlands Trains

|

International|

* Enterprise3
* Eurostar

Sub-brands|

* Gatwick Express
* Great Northern
* Island Line
* London Northwestern Railway
* Night Riviera
* Southern
* Stansted Express
* Thameslink
* West Midlands Railway

Operators not subject to franchising or concession:

* 1 Government-owned operator of last resort
* 2 Open-access operator
* 3 Operates on the Irish railway network and state-owned
* 4 Owned by the Scottish Government

Defunct (since 1994)

* Abellio ScotRail
* Anglia Railways
* Arriva Rail North
* Arriva Trains Merseyside
* Arriva Trains Northern
* Arriva Trains Wales
* Central Trains
* Connex South Central
* Connex South Eastern
* East Coast
* East Midlands Trains
* First Capital Connect
* First Great Eastern
* First Great Western Link
* First North Western
* First ScotRail
* First TransPennine Express
* Gatwick Express1
* Great North Eastern Railway
* Heathrow Connect
* Island Line2
* KeolisAmey Wales
* London Midland
* London Overground Rail Operations
* Midland Mainline
* National Express East Anglia
* National Express East Coast
* Northern Rail
* ScotRail (National Express)
* Silverlink
* South Eastern Trains
* Southeastern
* South West Trains
* TfL Rail
* Thameslink3
* Thames Trains
* TransPennine Express
* Valley Lines
* Virgin CrossCountry
* Virgin Trains East Coast
* Virgin Trains West Coast
* Wales & Borders
* Wales & West
* Wessex Trains
* West Anglia Great Northern
* Wrexham & Shropshire

* 1 Separate franchise until 2008; now a sub-brand of Govia Thameslink Railway
* 2 Separate franchise until 2007, now a sub-brand of South Western Railway
* 3 Separate franchise until 2006; later reintroduced as a sub-brand of Govia Thameslink Railway

Future

| Future operators|

* Grand Union

|

Prospective operators|

* Go-op
* Virgin Trains
* Wrexham, Shropshire & Midlands Railway

* Category
* Commons
* Maps

*[tph]: trains per hour
*[1tp2h]: 1 train every 2 hours
*[.mw-parser-output .frac{white-space:nowrap}.mw-parser-output .frac .num,.mw-parser-output .frac .den{font-size:80%;line-height:0;vertical-align:super}.mw-parser-output .frac .den{vertical-align:sub}.mw-parser-output .sr-only{border:0;clip:rect(0,0,0,0);clip-path:polygon(0px 0px,0px 0px,0px 0px);height:1px;margin:-1px;overflow:hidden;padding:0;position:absolute;width:1px}1⁄4]: 1 train every 4 hours
*[tpd]: trains per day
*[4⁄3]: 4 trains every 3 hours
*[1⁄2]: 1 train every 2 hours
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template