Northern (train operating company)

Northern
Overview
Franchise(s) Northern
1 April 2016 – 31 March 2025
Main Region(s) North West
North East
Yorkshire and the Humber
Other Region(s) East Midlands
Staffordshire
Fleet size 384 units[nb 1]
Stations called at 528
Stations operated 476
Parent company Arriva UK Trains
Website www.northernrailway.co.uk

Northern is a train operating company in Northern England. A subsidiary of Arriva UK Trains, it began operating the Northern franchise on 1 April 2016 and inherited units from the previous operator Northern Rail.

History

Passenger journeys on Northern, 2010/11 to Q1 2017/18 (in millions, annual rolling average)[1][2]

In August 2014, the Department for Transport announced that Abellio, Arriva and Govia had been shortlisted to bid for the next Northern franchise.[3][4] The franchise was awarded to Arriva in December 2015.[5]

In May 2016, the Competition and Markets Authority launched an investigation into the transport department's decision to award the Northern network to Arriva.[6] Arriva operated the CrossCountry franchise and owned many bus companies in the Northern trains operating area in which 'a significant overlap occurs without competition from other service providers.'[7]

In May 2018 the Mayor of Greater Manchester contacted Transport for the North (TfN) requesting an investigation into service and passenger conditions since the franchise was taken over.[8]

May 2018 timetable recast

The franchise was widely criticised for implementing a new timetable in May 2018 which resulted in widespread delays and cancellations.[9][10] The main cause of this was driver training on the Blackpool Branch line, as it had been closed to rail traffic for electrification. This caused drivers to be unavailable to work passenger services.

Network Rail and Northern announced an independent inquiry to learn lessons and identify route alterations in readiness for the next timetable change in December 2018.[11] In an attempt to counter operational problems, Northern implemented an emergency timetable on 4 June 2018[12] - it stemmed some delays and cancellations but was still problematic compared with performance before the timetable change. Reliability was particularly bad in the North West where the number of trains per hour through Manchester increased from 10 to 14. The extra services caused congestion, delays and cancellations.[13]

Services

Northern Rail performance from commencement of franchise in April 2016 to April 2018. Graph generated from published period performance data by Arriva Rail North.[14]

Northern took over all the services operated by Northern Rail (also branded Northern) on 1 April 2016[15] and on the same date, services between Manchester Airport and Blackpool North, Manchester Airport and Barrow in Furness and Oxenholme to Windermere from First TransPennine Express.[16]

Northern took over responsibility for all the stations managed by Northern Rail, as well as Arnside, Barrow-in-Furness, Birchwood, Burneside, Carnforth, Grange-over-Sands, Kendal, Staveley, Ulverston, Warrington Central and Windermere from First TransPennine Express.[16] Northern will staff some currently unstaffed stations. The first stations to be staffed will be Baildon and Ben Rhydding,[17] both in West Yorkshire.

Northern has committed to introducing free Wi-Fi on trains, and new ticketing options including the ability for customers to print their own tickets.[18] Arriva will provide new services across the North of England.[19]

In October 2017, the Cleethorpes to Barton-on-Humber service was due to transfer to East Midlands Trains. The transfer would have included Barrow Haven, Barton upon Humber, Goxhill, Great Coates, Grimsby Docks, Habrough, Healing, New Clee, New Holland, Stallingborough, Thornton Abbey and Ulceby stations. However, as of July 2018, this has still not taken place.[16]

On 1 July 2016, the business was divided into four regions, each headed up by a regional director:[20]

  • Central – regional director based in Manchester
  • East – regional director based in Leeds
  • North East – regional director based in Newcastle upon Tyne
  • West – regional director based in Preston

Table of off-peak services

Below is a list of off-peak services, per the 20 May - 8 December 2018 timetables.[21] It has been slightly simplified due to some routes' irregular service pattern. Several routes which Northern run only have limited or peak service and are omitted.

Liverpool to Wigan and Blackpool
RoutetphCalling at
Liverpool Lime Street to Wigan North Western2Edge Hill, Wavertree Technology Park, Broad Green, Roby, Huyton, Prescot, Eccleston Park, Thatto Heath, St Helens Central, Garswood and Bryn
Liverpool Lime Street to Blackpool North1Huyton, St Helens Central, Wigan North Western, Euxton, Leyland, Preston, Kirkham & Wesham, Poulton-le-Fylde
Liverpool to Warrington and Manchester
RoutetphCalling at
Liverpool Lime Street to Manchester Airport1Liverpool South Parkway, Warrington Central, Birchwood, Manchester Oxford Road, Manchester Piccadilly and Mauldeth Road
Liverpool Lime Street to Manchester Oxford Road1Mossley Hill, West Allerton, Liverpool South Parkway, Hough Green, Widnes, Warrington Central, Padgate, Birchwood, Glazebrook, Irlam, Flixton, Chassen Road (1tp2h), Urmston and Deansgate
1Edge Hill, Mossley Hill, West Allerton, Liverpool South Parkway, Hunts Cross, Halewood, Hough Green, Widnes, Sankey for Penketh, Warrington Central, Birchwood, Irlam, Urmston, Humphrey Park (1tp2h), Trafford Park (1tp2h) and Deansgate
Liverpool Lime Street to Warrington Bank Quay1Edge Hill, Wavertree Technology Park, Broad Green, Roby, Huyton, Whiston, Rainhill, Lea Green, St Helens Junction and Earlestown
Liverpool Lime Street to Crewe1Edge 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, Manchester Airport, Styal, Wilmslow, Alderley Edge, Holmes Chapel and Sandbach
Manchester to Crewe and Stoke
RoutetphCalling at
Manchester Piccadilly to Crewe1Levenshulme, Heaton Chapel, Stockport, Cheadle Hulme, Handforth, Wilmslow, Alderley Edge, Chelford, Goostrey, Holmes Chapel and Sandbach
Manchester Piccadilly to Stoke-on-Trent1Stockport, Cheadle Hulme, Bramhall, Poynton, Adlington, Prestbury, Macclesfield, Congleton and Kidsgrove
Mid-Cheshire Line
RoutetphCalling at
Manchester Piccadilly to Chester1Stockport, Navigation Road, Altrincham, Hale, Ashley, Mobberley, Knutsford, Plumley, Lostock Gralam, Northwich, Greenbank, Cuddington, Delamere and Mouldsworth
Buxton Line
RoutetphCalling at
Manchester Piccadilly to Buxton1Stockport, Davenport, Woodsmoor, Hazel Grove, Disley, New Mills Newtown, Whaley Bridge and Chapel-en-le-Frith
1Levenshulme, Heaton Chapel, Stockport, Davenport, Woodsmoor, Hazel Grove, Middlewood (1tp2h), Disley, New Mills Newtown, Furness Vale, Whaley Bridge, Chapel-en-le-Frith and Dove Holes
Manchester Piccadilly to Hazel Grove1Levenshulme, Heaton Chapel, Stockport, Davenport and Woodsmoor
Glossop and Hope Valley Lines
RoutetphCalling at
Manchester Piccadilly to Hadfield2Ashburys, Guide Bridge, Flowery Field, Newton for Hyde, Godley, Hattersley, Broadbottom, Dinting and Glossop
Manchester Piccadilly to Rose Hill Marple2Gorton, Fairfield (1tph), Guide Bridge, Hyde North (1tph), Hyde Central, Woodley and Romiley
Manchester Piccadilly to New Mills Central1Ashburys, Belle Vue (irregular), Ryder Brow, Reddish North, Brinnington, Bredbury, Romiley, Marple and Strines (1tp2h)
Manchester Piccadilly to Sheffield1Reddish North, Brinnington, Bredbury, Romiley, Marple, New Mills Central, Chinley, Edale, Hope, Bamford, Hathersage, Grindleford and Dore & Totley
Manchester to Wigan and Preston
RoutetphCalling at
Manchester Airport to Preston1Heald Green, Gatley, Burnage, Manchester Piccadilly, Manchester Oxford Road, Deansgate, Salford Crescent, Bolton, Horwich Parkway, Chorley and Buckshaw Parkway
some trains extend to/from Barrow-in-Furness, see below
Manchester Piccadilly to Blackpool North1Manchester Oxford Road, Deansgate, Salford Crescent, Bolton, Lostock, Horwich Parkway, Chorley, Buckshaw Parkway, Leyland, Preston and Poulton-le-Fylde
Manchester Victoria to Buckshaw Parkway1Salford Central, Salford Crescent, Bolton, Lostock, Horwich Parkway, Blackrod, Adlington and Chorley
Manchester Airport to Blackpool North1Heald Green, East Didsbury, Manchester Piccadilly, Manchester Oxford Road, Wigan North Western, Leyland, Preston, Kirkham & Wesham, Poulton-le-Flyde and Layton
Alderley Edge to Wigan North Western1Wilmslow, Handforth, Cheadle Hulme, Stockport, Manchester Piccadilly, Manchester Oxford Road, Salford Crescent, Bolton, Westhoughton and Hindley
Stalybridge to Wigan North Western1Ashton-under-Lyne, Manchester Victoria, Salford Central, Salford Crescent, Kearsley, Farnworth, Moses Gate, Bolton, Westhoughton and Hindley
Stalybridge to Manchester Victoria1Ashton-under-Lyne
Manchester Victoria to Kirkby1Salford Central, Salford Crescent, Swinton, Moorside, Walkden, Atherton, Hag Fold, Daisy Hill, Hindley, Wigan Wallgate, Pemberton, Orrell, Upholland and Rainford
Manchester to Blackburn
RoutetphCalling at
Rochdale to Blackburn (and Clitheroe)2Castleton, Mills Hill, Moston, Manchester Victoria, Salford Central, Salford Crescent, Bolton, Hall I' Th' Wood, Bromley Cross, Entwistle and Darwen
1tph extends to/from Clitheroe, calling at Ramsgreave & Wilpshire, Langho and Whalley
Blackburn to Southport1Accrington, Rose Grove, Burnley Manchester Road, Todmorden, Littleborough, Smithy Bridge, Rochdale, Manchester Victoria, Salford Central, Salford Crescent, Swinton, Walkden, Atherton, Daisy Hill, Hindley, Wigan Wallgate, Gathurst, Appley Bridge, Parbold, Hoscar (irregular), Burscough Bridge, New Lane (irregular), Bescar Lane (irregular) and Meols Cop
Huddersfield Line
RoutetphCalling at
Leeds to Southport1Cottingley, Morley, Dewsbury, Mirfield, Brighouse, Sowerby Bridge, Mytholmroyd, Hebden Bridge, Todmorden, Walsden, Littleborough, Smithy Bridge, Rochdale, Manchester Victoria, Salford Central, Salford Crescent, Walkden, Atherton, Daisy Hill, Wigan Wallgate, Gathurst, Appley Bridge, Parbold, Burscough Bridge and Meols Cop
Wakefield Kirkgate to Huddersfield1Mirfield, Deighton
Caldervale Line
RoutetphCalling at
Leeds to Preston1New Pudsey, Bradford Interchange, Halifax, Sowerby Bridge, Mytholmroyd, Hebden Bridge, Burnley Manchester Road, Accrington and Blackburn
Leeds to Manchester Victoria2Bramley, New Pudsey, Bradford Interchange, Halifax, Hebden Bridge, Todmorden, Rochdale, Castleton (1tph), Mills Hill (1tph) and Moston (1tph)
Leeds-Bradford Lines
RoutetphCalling at
Leeds to Huddersfield1Bramley, New Pudsey, Bradford Interchange, Low Moor, Halifax and Brighouse
Leeds to Bradford Forster Square2Kirkstall Forge, Apperley Bridge, Shipley and Frizinghall
Wharfedale Line
RoutetphCalling at
Leeds to Ilkley2Guiseley, Menston, Burley-in-Wharfedale and Ben Rhydding
Bradford Forster Square to Ilkley2Frizinghall, Shipley, Baildon, Guiseley, Menston, Burley-in-Wharfdale and Ben Rhydding
Airedale Line
RoutetphCalling at
Leeds to Skipton2Shipley, Saltaire, Bingley, Crossflatts, Keighley, Steeton & Silsden, Cononley
Bradford Forster Square to Skipton2Frizinghall, Shipley, Saltaire, Bingley, Crossflats, Keighley, Steeton & Silsden and Cononley
'Little' North Western
RoutetphCalling at
Leeds to Lancaster0.5Shipley, Bingley, Keighley, Skipton, Gargrave, Hellifield, Long Preston, Giggleswick, Clapham, Bentham, Wennington and Carnforth
some trains continue to Bare Lane and Morecambe, providing additional service
Lancaster to Morecambe1Bare Lane. 1 train per day extends to/from Heysham Port.
Hourly service supplimented/modified by additional trains from Leeds.
Leeds to Carlisle0.5Shipley, Bingley, Keighley, Skipton, Gargrave (irregular), Hellifield, Long Preston (irregular), Settle, Horton in Ribblesdale, Ribblehead, Dent, Garsdale, Kirkby Stephen, Appleby, Langwathby, Lazonby & Kirkoswald and Armathwaite
Harrogate Line
RoutetphCalling at
Leeds to Knaresborough (and York)2Burley Park, Headingley, Horsforth, Weeton, Pannal, Hornbeam Park, Harrogate and Starbeck.
1tph extends to/from York, calling at Cattal, Hammerton and Poppleton
Pontefract Line
RoutetphCalling at
Leeds to Knottingley1Woodlesford, Castleford, Glasshoughton and Pontefract Monkhill
some peak trains extend to/from Goole calling at all stations
1Wakefield Westgate, Wakefield Kirkgate, Streethouse, Featherstone, Pontefract Tanshelf and Pontefract Monkhill
Wakefield Line
RoutetphCalling at
Leeds to Doncaster1Outwood, Wakefield Westgate, Sandal & Agbrigg, Fitzwilliam, South Elmsall, Adwick and Bentley
Leeds to Sheffield1Outwood, Wakefield Westgate, Sandal & Agbrigg, Fitzwilliam, Moorthorpe, Thurnscoe, Goldthorpe, Bolton-upon-Dearne, Swinton, Rotherham Central and Meadowhall
Penistone Line
RoutetphCalling at
Huddersfield to Sheffield1Lockwood, Berry Brow, Honley, Brockholes, Stocksmoor, Shepley, Denby Dale, Penistone, Silkstone Common, Dodworth, Barnsley, Wombwell, Elsecar, Chapeltown and Meadowhall, several services extended to Lincoln Central (3 trains per day) via Worksop (on Sundays several services are extended to Lincoln)
Hallam Line
RoutetphCalling at
Leeds to Sheffield1Woodlesford, Castleford, Normanton, Wakefield Kirkgate, Darton, Barnsley, Wombwell, Elsecar, Chapletown and Meadowhall, Lincoln Central
Leeds to Nottingham1Wakefield Kirkgate, Barnsley, Meadowhall, Sheffield, Dronfield, Chesterfield, Alfreton, Langley Mill and Ilkeston (one train a week to Carlisle)
Leeds to Lincoln Central1Wakefield Kirkgate, Barnsley, Meadowhall, Sheffield, Darnall, Woodhouse, Kiveton Bridge, Shireoaks, Worksop, Retford, Gainsborough Lea Road and Saxilby
York and Selby Lines
RoutetphCalling at
Leeds to York1Cross Gates, Garforth, East Garforth, Micklefield and Church Fenton
Leeds to Selby1Cross Gates, Garforth, East Garforth, Micklefield and South Milford
York to Hull0.5Church Fenton, Sherburn-in-Elmet, Selby, Howden, Gilberdyke and Brough
0.5Selby, Howden, Gilberdyke and Brough
Sheffield to Humberside
RoutetphCalling at
Sheffield to Adwick1Meadowhall, Rotherham Central, Swinton, Mexborough, Conisbrough, Doncaster, Bentley
Sheffield to Hull1Meadowhall, Rotherham Central, Swinton, Mexborough, Conisbrough, Doncaster, Kirk Sandall, Hatfield & Stainforth, Thorne North, Goole, Gilberdyke, Brough, Ferriby and Hessle
Sheffield to Bridlington1Meadowhall, Doncaster, Goole, Brough, Hull, Cottingham, Beverley, Arram (limited), Hutton Cranswick, Driffield and Nafferton
Hull to Bridlington (and Scarborough)1Cottingham, Beverley, Hutton Cranswick (irregular) and Driffield
1tp2h extends to Scarborough, calling at Bempton, Hunmanby, Filey and Seamer
Doncaster to Scunthorpe1Kirk Sandall, Hatfield & Stainforth, Thorne South, Crowle and Althorpe
Barton Line
RoutetphCalling at
Barton-on-Humber to Cleethorpes0.5Barrow Haven, New Holland, Goxhill, Thornton Abbey, Ulceby, Habrough, Stallingborough, Healing, Great Coates, Grimsby Town, Grimsby Docks and New Clee
Lancashire & Cumbria Coast
RoutetphCalling at
Preston to Colne1Lostock Hall, Bamber Bridge, Pleasington, Cherry Tree, Mill Hill, Blackburn, Rishton, Church & Oswaldtwistle, Accrington, Huncoat, Hapton, Rose Grove, Burnley Barracks, Burnley Central, Brierfield and Nelson
Preston to Ormskirk1Croston, Rufford and Burscough Junction
Preston to Blackpool South1Kirkham & Wesham, Moss Side, Lytham, Ansdell & Fairhaven, St Annes-on-the-Sea, Squires Gate and Blackpool Pleasure Beach
Lancaster to Barrow-in-Furness1Carnforth, Silverdale (irregular), Arnside, Grange-over-Sands, Kents Bank (irregular), Cark (irregular), Ulverston and Dalton (irregular), Roose (irregular)
Some trains extend to/from Manchester Airport via Preston, see above. Some trains extend to/from Carlisle, see below
Barrow-in-Furness to Carlisle1Askam, Kirkby-in-Furness, Foxfield, Green Road, Millom, Silecroft, Bootle, Ravenglass, Drigg, Seascale, Sellafield, St Bees, Corkickle, Whitehaven, Parton, Harrington, Workington, Flimby, Maryport, Aspatria, Wigton and Dalston
Some trains extend to/from Lancaster, see above
Oxenholme Lake District to Windermere1Kendal, Burneside and Staveley
some trains extend to/from Lancaster, Preston or Manchester Piccadilly
Northumberland
RoutetphCalling at
Newcastle to Morpeth1Manors and Cramlington
Tyne Valley, Durham Coast and Esk Valley Lines
RoutetphCalling at
Carlisle to Newcastle1Wetheral (1tp2h), Brampton (1tp2h), Haltwhistle, Bardon Mill (1tp2h), Haydon Bridge, Hexham, Prudhoe and MetroCentre
trains either serve Weatheral and Brampton, or Bardon Mill
Metrocentre to Newcastle1Dunston
Hexham to Nunthorpe1Corbridge, Riding Mill, Stocksfield, Prudhoe, Wylam, Blaydon, MetroCentre, Newcastle, Heworth, Sunderland, Seaham, Hartlepool, Seaton Carew, Billingham, Stockton, Thornaby, Middlesbrough, James Cook, Marton and Gypsy Lane
Some trains terminate at Middlesbrough, with Whitby services providing the hourly Middlesbrough-Nunthorpe service. Other trains extend to Battersby or Danby
Middlesbrough to Whitby-James Cook, Marton, Gypsy Lane, Nunthorpe, Great Ayton, Battersby, Kildale, Commondale, Castleton Moor, Danby, Lealholm, Glaisdale, Egton, Grosmont, Sleights and Ruswarp
4 trains run each day, with an extra one in summer
Tees Valley Line
RoutetphCalling at
Saltburn to Darlington (and Bishop Auckland)2Marske, Longbeck, Redcar East, Redcar Central, South Bank (1tph), Middlesbrough, Thornaby, Eaglescliffe, Allens West and Dinsdale. 1tph extends to Bishops Auckland, calling at North Road, Heighington, Newton Aycliffe and Shildon

Rolling stock

Northern inherited the rolling stock operated by Northern Rail, namely Class 142, 144, 150, 153, 155, 156 and 158 diesel multiple units and Class 319, 321, 322, 323 and 333 electric multiple units. To operate services transferred from the TransPennine Express franchise, four Class 185 units are sublet from that franchise to Northern. To provide additional peak time capacity on the Calder Valley Line, one Class 180 unit is sublet from Grand Central to Northern per weekday.

Class 37/4 locomotives and Mark 2 carriages are hired from Direct Rail Services until for Cumbrian Coast line services.[16]

Current fleet

Class Image Type Top speed Carriages Number Routes Built
mph km/h
Locomotive hauled stock
37 Loco 80 130 – 2 Cumbrian Coast line (Monday to Saturday only)[22]

(Locos are provided by DRS with Northern providing drivers and conductors)[23]

 1960–65
68 Loco 100 160 2[24] 2013–17
Mark 2 Coach 100 160 6 1972–75
DBSO 2 1979
Diesel multiple units
142 Pacer DMU 75 121 2 79 Local and commuter services across the North 1985–87
144 Pacer 75 121 2 13 Local and commuter services in Yorkshire 1986–87
3 10
150/1 & 150/2 Sprinter 75 121 2 73 Local services across the North 1985–87
153 Super Sprinter 75 121 1 23 Local and commuter services across the North
Also used to boost capacity on peak time services		 1987–88
155 Super Sprinter 75 121 2 7
  • Manchester Victoria–Leeds
  • Local and commuter services across Yorkshire

1987–88
156 Super Sprinter 75 121 2 42 Local, commuter and regional services across the North 1987–89
158/0 & 158/9
Express Sprinter		 90 140 2 39
  • Regional express and commuter services in West Yorkshire
  • Northern Connect services in the North East (from 2018)
 1989–92
3 8
170/4 Turbostar 100 161 3 10
  • Leeds–York via Harrogate
 2003–05
180 Adelante 125 201 5 1 Calder Valley Line peak time services[nb 2]
(Unit is subleased from Grand Central)[25]		 2000–01
185 Desiro 100 161 3 2 Services transferred from TransPennine Express[nb 3]
(Four units are subleased from TransPennine Express)		 2005–06
Electric multiple units
319/3 & 319/4 EMU 100 161 4 36[nb 4]
  • Electrified commuter services in Greater Manchester and Merseyside
  • Electrified commuter services from Blackpool (from May 2018)[26]
 1987–90
321/9 100 161 4 3 Electrified commuter services in West Yorkshire 1991
322 100 161 4 5 Electrified commuter services in West Yorkshire 1990
323 90 140 3 17 Electrified commuter services in Greater Manchester, Cheshire, Staffordshire and Derbyshire 1992–93
333 100 161 4 16 Electrified commuter services in West Yorkshire 2000

Depots

Northern's fleet is maintained at Allerton, Blackpool, Heaton, Newton Heath and Neville Hill depots.

In 2017, a new stabling depot opened at Blackburn King Street, with space for up to thirty diesel multiple units.[27]

A new depot will open in Wigan in December 2019, with space for 32 trains. The depot will be adapted from a freight yard at Springs Branch railway sidings in Ince-in-Makerfield and will cost £46 million.[28]

Northern currently has depots for its train crew at Barrow-in-Furness, Blackburn, Blackpool North, Buxton, Carlisle, Darlington (drivers), Doncaster, Harrogate, Huddersfield, Hull, Ilkley, Liverpool Lime Street, Leeds, Manchester Piccadilly, Manchester Victoria, Middlesbrough (guards), Newcastle, Sheffield, Skipton, Wigan Wallgate, Workington and York.

Planned Future Delivery

Service - Northern Connect

Northern Connect logo
The logo for future Northern Connect express services

By December 2019, Northern plans to operate a network of twelve Northern Connect inter-urban express services – a franchise requirement. Most of these will be operated by brand-new Class 195 Civity diesel multiple units and Class 331 Civity electric multiple units, whilst the Middlesbrough to Carlisle via Newcastle route will be operated by refurbished Class 158 units. Electrification of the line between Oxenholme and Windermere was cancelled by the Government in 2017,[29] so the Manchester Airport to Windermere route will be operated initially by Class 769 Flex trains instead, with Class 195 Civity trains taking over by the end of 2019.[29]

Places that will be served by Northern Connect routes include Bradford, Chester, Halifax, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Middlesbrough, Nottingham, Newcastle, Preston, Sheffield, Barnsley, Lincoln, Wakefield, Wigan and York.

Northern Connect planned future routes and future rolling stock

ColourRoute [30]Rolling Stock
Blackpool North - Preston - Chorley - Bolton - Salford Crescent - Manchester Piccadilly - Manchester Airport Class 331
Blackpool North - Preston - Blackburn - Halifax - Bradford Interchange - Leeds - York Class 195
Liverpool Lime Street - Manchester Victoria - Rochdale - Halifax - Bradford Interchange - Leeds Class 195
Chester - Warrington Bank Quay - Manchester Victoria - Rochdale - Halifax - Bradford Interchange - Leeds Class 195
Liverpool Lime Street - Warrington Central - Manchester Piccadilly - Manchester Airport Class 195
Barrow-in-Furness & Windermere - Lancaster - Preston - Wigan North Western - Manchester Piccadilly - Manchester Airport Class 195
Manchester Airport - Manchester Piccadilly - Manchester Victoria - Rochdale - Halifax - Bradford Interchange Class 195
Carlisle - Hexham - MetroCentre - Newcastle - Middlesbrough Class 158
Leeds - Wakefield Kirkgate - Barnsley - Meadowhall Interchange - Sheffield - Lincoln Class 195
Sheffield - Doncaster - Hull Class 158 and Class 195[31]
Bradford Interchange - Leeds - Wakefield Westgate - Sheffield - Chesterfield - Nottingham Class 158 and Class 195[31]

New rolling stock

The first Class 195 will enter service in December 2019. (pictured in Velim in September 2018)

From December 2018, Arriva will commence introduction of new-built rolling stock with the diesel Class 195 and electric Class 331. These trains will operate on Northern Connect routes which are primarily operated by Class 150 and Class 156 units. These displaced units will be used to replace the unpopular Pacer trains on other routes and the latter will all be retired from service by 2020.

Arriva believe the dated rolling stock on the Northern network is a severe impediment to attracting new rail passengers - many of whom, who might otherwise be interested in commuting by train, are put off by the dilapidated state of much of the rolling stock in Northern England which has been in operation since the 1980s, particularly the Pacers, which are known to be quite uncomfortable at times. Northern are refurbishing the rolling stock that will be kept in service, to make them more appealing to customers.[32] The 98 brand new units, consisting of 250 carriages, will all be in service by 2020.[32]

Future fleet

Arriva Rail North Franchise Agreement Capacity Requirements[33]
City December 2017 Peak Capacity
(07:59-10:00, seats + standing)		 December 2019 Peak Capacity
(07:59-10:00, seats + standing)
Leeds 26,034 35,000
Liverpool 7,819 9,500
Manchester 45,840 52,200
Newcastle 2,440 3,100
Sheffield 6,420 10,000

Class 142 and 144 withdrawals are scheduled to commence in November 2018 with the last to be removed from traffic in October 2019.[34]

Additional rolling stock will be required to enable the phasing out of the unpopular Pacer trains and to increase capacity during peak times as stipulated in the franchise agreement with the Department for Transport (DfT). Future rolling stock will consist of a combination of new-build and "cascaded" trains from other franchises. These cascaded trains will enable existing DMU rolling stock to supplant the Pacer trains operating on existing routes.

The first new-build trains, Class 195 and Class 331 units, will enter service in December 2018 while the phasing out of Pacer trains is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2019.[35] They will be a mix of two and three car diesel multiple units and three and four car electric multiple units all based on the Civity UK platform and will all be in operational service by the end of 2020.[36][37]

A total of 47 diesel units will be cascaded to Northern, 27 from Abellio ScotRail, three from West Midlands Trains and seventeen from Great Western Railway train operating companies, after the Edinburgh-Glasgow and Great Western Main Line electrification works are completed respectively. The first of these units entered service for Northern in late 2017.

A number of train classes considered surplus to requirements due to new or cascaded rolling stock are scheduled to be returned to their owners over the course of the franchise - although these trains could remain if deemed necessary. These include:

  • Class 323 - all 17 units to be returned to leasing company Porterbrook at the end of 2018/19 having been replaced by the Class 319s
  • Class 321 - all 3 units to be returned to leasing company Eversholt once replaced by the Class 331s in 2020
  • Class 322 - all 6 units to be returned to leasing company Eversholt once replaced by the Class 331s in 2020

Northern's ten 319/4 units are to be converted from pure electric multiple units into bi-mode multiple units, classified as Class 769 by the end of 2019. An additional eighteen two-car DMUs, comparable to a Class 170 are due to join the fleet by December 2022. It has been confirmed that there is an option for further Class 195 and Class 331 carriages in the future, although as of February 2018, it has not been confirmed how many or what type these carriages would be.[38]

Northern envisages that once the Pacer trains are retired by the end of 2019, the condition of the diesel Sprinter units (Class 150, Class 155 and Class 156) will be questioned and are exploring possibilities to either completely modernise these units, convert surplus electric trains to bi-mode diesel power or order new-build trains by 2025.[39][32] Porterbrook and Eversholt are actively exploring possibilities to convert surplus electric trains to work on non-electrified lines as a result of a diesel train shortage - notably the Class 319 bi-mode and Class 321 hydrogen cell project.[40]

Class Image Type Top speed Carriages Number Routes Built In Service
mph km/h
Diesel multiple units
150/1 Sprinter DMU 75 121 2 5[41] Commuter services across The North 1984–85[42] 2017–19
150/9 Sprinter DMU 75 121 3 12[nb 5] Services including:
  • Huddersfield–Sheffield
  • Leeds–Goole[43]
 1984–85[44] 2019
156 Super Sprinter DMU 75 121 2 5 Services to be confirmed 1987 2019
158/0 Express Sprinter DMU 90 140 2 6 Services to be confirmed 1990–92 2018
170/4 Turbostar DMU 100 161 3 6[45]
  • Leeds–Southport via Manchester Victoria (From December 2018)
  • Leeds–York via Harrogate
 2003–05 2018
195/0 & 195/1 Civity DMU 100 161 2 25 Northern Connect services 2017–19 2018–19
3 30
TBC[nb 6] DMU 100 161 2 18 Services to be confirmed TBC TBC
Electric multiple units
331/0 & 331/1 Civity EMU 100 161 3 31
  • Electrified commuter services in Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire
  • Electrified Northern Connect services in the North West
 2017–19 2018–19
4 12
Bi-mode multiple units
769/4 Flex BMU TBC TBC 4 11
  • Wigan–Alderley Edge via Manchester Piccadilly
  • Wigan–Stalybridge via Manchester Victoria[46]
  • Manchester Airport–Windermere (TBC 2018–December 2019 only)[47]
 2017–18[nb 7] 2018

Driver Controlled Operation

The Department of Transport and Rail North have specified that the franchise must ensure that at least 50% of the aggregate Train Mileage of Passenger Services provided in each Reporting Period is operated as Driver Controlled Operation (DCO).

DCO is defined as "operation of a train by a driver alone without the need for a conductor (or any other Franchise Employee)." The franchise further specifies that "Where ... a Passenger Service is operated as Driver Controlled Operation the Franchisee shall ... plan for an additional Franchise Employee (that is, in addition to the driver) to be present on such Passenger Service." [43]

The RMT Union are unhappy about this change, as roles currently undertaken by guards would instead be undertaken by drivers (such as releasing the doors once the train has stopped at a station). This could theoretically make it possible to run a train without a guard, and as a result, the union have called industrial action over the change.[48]

Notes

  1. ↑ Two units are leased from TransPennine Express and one unit is leased from Grand Central
  2. ↑ One morning peak time service from Hebden Bridge to Leeds, and one return trip in the evening peak, from Monday to Friday
  3. ↑ The three services which transferred to the Northern franchise are Manchester Airport to Blackpool North, Manchester Airport to Barrow-in-Furness and the Oxenholme to Windermere shuttle
  4. ↑ The Class 319/4 units are to be converted to Class 769 bi-mode units
  5. ↑ Eighteen units are to be converted into twelve three car Class 150/9 units
  6. ↑ These must be DMUs which are at least an equivalent in performance and quality to 2-car Class 170 units
  7. ↑ Class 319/4 units were initially built between 1987 and 1988

References

  1. ↑ https://dataportal.orr.gov.uk/displayreport/report/html/54da2941-27f3-4459-9797-609d9b33f907
  2. ↑ https://dataportal.orr.gov.uk/displayreport/report/html/2b2e2c38-c822-4e1f-9fb4-b049b3c13899
  3. ↑ Shortlist for Northern and TransPennine operators revealed Department for Transport 19 August 2014
  4. ↑ Transformation of rail in the north Northern 27 February 2015
  5. ↑ http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/passenger/single-view/view/northern-and-transpennine-express-franchises-awarded.html
  6. ↑ Lea, Robert (21 May 2016). "Arriva faces northern exposure amid franchise victory enquiry". The Times (71916). p. 51.
  7. ↑ Clinnick, Richard (17 May 2015). "Arriva faces possible investigation over competition concerns". Rail. Retrieved 21 May 2016.
  8. ↑ Pilling, Kim (16 May 2018). "Andy Burnham calls for investigation into Northern Rail". men. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  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 rail to commission independent report into train disruption". BBC News. 25 May 2018.
  12. ↑ "Temporary timetables | Northern". www.northernrailway.co.uk. Retrieved 3 June 2018.
  13. ↑ "A big chunk of Northern's timetable is back on Monday - but not for many Greater Manchester passengers". Manchester Evening News. 29 July 2018. As an industry we are really sorry for the impact that this has had on customers. Congestion on the network within the Manchester area has been a factor in the disruption and as all our services run through this corridor this caused a knock-on effect on our services across the North.
  14. ↑ "Northern Rail - Performance". Arriva Rail North. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
  15. ↑ Transformation of rail travel in the north Department for Transport 27 February 2015
  16. 1 2 3 4 Stakeholder Briefing Document and Consultation Response Department for Transport 27 February 2015
  17. ↑ "Proud to be Northern – April 2016".
  18. ↑ "Arriva chosen to run and expand Northern franchise from next year". Rail Technology Magazine. 9 December 2015. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
  19. ↑ "Massive boost to rail services brings Northern Powerhouse to life".
  20. ↑ "Northern launches new business regions – Northern".
  21. ↑ "Northern Rail - Timetables". northern by arriva. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  22. ↑ "Loco-hauled services to return to the Cumbrian coast". Railway Herald. 8 January 2015.
  23. ↑ "Bigger Trains and Changes Ahead For Cumbria's Coastal Rail Route" (Press release). Northern Rail. 18 May 2015.
  24. ↑ "Class 68 is coming to Cumbria thanks to Northern and DRS". Northern. Northern. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
  25. ↑ https://www.pressreader.com/uk/rail-uk/20160716/281633894579925
  26. ↑ "Electrification in the North – Network Rail".
  27. ↑ "Northern opens £23m Blackburn depot as part of Great North Rail Project". Rail Technology Magazine. Rail Technology Magazine. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
  28. ↑ https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/business/business-news/network-rail-northern-depot-wigan-14569296
  29. 1 2 "Bi-mode Class 319s for Lakes Line". RailStaff. Coalville: Rail Media. 21 July 2017. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  30. ↑ https://be803fe5c416e39d38ae-aa21086260d3bd4e072d597fe09c2e80.ssl.cf3.rackcdn.com/images/maps/2016-07/NorthernConnectMap_July16.pdf
  31. 1 2 http://maps.dft.gov.uk/northern/index.html
  32. 1 2 3 Shirres, David (3 April 2018). "Northern's trains from Spain". Railway Engineer. Retrieved 14 September 2018.
  33. ↑ "Northern 2015: Train Service Requirements". Department for Transport (DfT). Retrieved 15 June 2018.
  34. ↑ "Northern announces dates for rundown of Pacer fleet" Rail Express issue 244 September 2016 page 11
  35. ↑ "Arriva signs £490m rolling stock contract to replace Northern's Pacers". Rail Technology Magazine. 22 January 2016. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
  36. ↑ Barrow, Keith (22 January 2016). "CAF to supply 98 trains for Britain's Northern franchise". International Railway Journal. Retrieved 26 March 2016.
  37. ↑ Barrow, Keith (11 December 2015). "Arriva confirms Northern rolling stock plans". International Railway Journal. Retrieved 26 March 2016.
  38. ↑ Fender, Keith. "CAF presents first Civity EMU for Northern". International Railway Journal. International Railway Journal. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  39. ↑ "Northern's new trains set to trigger fleet rejuvenation". Rail Magazine. 13 February 2018. Retrieved 14 September 2018. However, Northern believes that withdrawal of the Pacers by the end of next year means attention will then turn to the quality of the remaining trains. There is concern that Class 150, ‘155’ and ‘156’ DMUs dating from 1985 onwards will still be in traffic into the next decade, and the operator believes the standards set by the new ‘195’ and ‘331’ fleets will generate an evaluation of what is on offer.
  40. ↑ "Alstom bids to develop hydrogen power using '321s'". Rail Magazine. 15 May 2018.
  41. ↑ https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/northern-rail-2016-rail-franchise-agreement
  42. ↑ "Regional Passenger Trains | Angel Trains". www.angeltrains.co.uk. Retrieved 13 August 2016.
  43. 1 2 "Northern Franchise Agreement" (PDF). Gov.uk. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
  44. ↑ "Regional Passenger Trains". www.angeltrains.co.uk. Retrieved 13 August 2016.
  45. ↑ https://www.pressreader.com/uk/rail-uk/20170816/282175061225230. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  46. ↑ https://www.greatermanchesterca.gov.uk/download/meetings/id/2167/item_09_may_2018_rail_timetable_consultation
  47. ↑ https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/rail-update-bi-mode-train-technology
  48. ↑ http://www.rmt.org.uk/news/rmt-announces-further-strike-action-on-arriva-rail-north/

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