Northern Electrics

Northern Electrics
319363 at Liverpool Lime Street in 2015
Overview
Franchise(s) Northern
(1 April 2016–present)
Fleet size 22
Stations called at (Main)
Liverpool Lime Street
Manchester Airport
Manchester Victoria
Wigan North Western
Warrington Bank Quay
Preston
Blackpool North (In 2018)
National Rail abbreviation NT
Parent company Northern
Website www.northernrailway.co.uk

Northern Electrics is a brand of electric commuter rail services introduced in 2015, operated by Northern. The services operate on the Liverpool to Manchester (via Chat Moss) and Liverpool to Wigan lines.

As a result of complete electrification of these lines by state track operator Network Rail, they became capable of taking more trains at a higher speed, with raised punctuality, reliability and with considerably less pollution than diesel. The first complete day of Northern Electrics services was 22 May 2015.

History

State rail infrastructure owner Network Rail began electrification of the lines between Manchester and Liverpool in 2013 as part of its Northern Hub upgrade programme.[1] The work was completed in February 2015.

The first electric services between Liverpool and Manchester commenced on 5 March 2015[2]—the first service operated by Northern Electrics being the Liverpool Lime Street to Manchester Airport route.[3]

As part of Northern Rail's plans for operation of the newly electrified Liverpool to Manchester lines, an initial 20 Class 319/3 units were transferred from Thameslink following a repaint and internal refresh.[3] 12 units launched the services early in 2015, with the remaining 8 units due to enter traffic for Northern Electrics in September the same year.

The Class 319s have largely replaced Class 142 Pacer, Class 150 Sprinter and Class 156 Super Sprinter diesel multiple unit stock that were once the mainstay of services between Liverpool and Manchester.

Branding

The Northern Electrics livery is different to the standard Northern Rail livery - featuring "Northern Electrics" logos and a different design which has a greater emphasis on purple.

Routes

As of December 2015, the routes operated by Northern Electrics are:[4]


Also, there are limited services to/from Blackpool North which are still DMUs and this route is not electrified. On weekends, services between Liverpool and Warrington Bank Quay are still operated by Class 150s, Class 142s and Class 156 units as fewer class 319s operate on weekends. The 18:00 service from Liverpool Lime Street to Preston, the 06:44 service from Wigan North Western to Liverpool Lime Street, the 07:38 service from Manchester Victoria to Liverpool Lime Street and the 08:38 service from Manchester Victoria to Liverpool Lime Street are run by DMUs on Saturdays.

Further services between Liverpool/Manchester and Preston/Blackpool will be added when Network Rail completes electrification of the Preston to Blackpool lines in 2018.[1]

Rolling stock

Fleet Image Type Top speed Number Routes operated Built
mph km/h
Class 319/3 & 319/4 EMU 100 161 24 (319/3), 8 (319/4)
  • Liverpool Lime Street–Manchester Airport
  • Liverpool Lime Street–Manchester Victoria
  • Liverpool Lime Street–Wigan North Western
  • Liverpool Lime Street-Warrington Bank Quay
  • Liverpool Lime Street/Liverpool South Parkway-Preston
  • Manchester Piccadilly-Manchester Airport

Further services between Liverpool/Manchester and Preston/Blackpool upon completion of electrification.

 1990 (319/3)

1987-88 (319/4)

References

  1. 1 2 "North West electrification". Retrieved 2 Jun 2015. Manchester to Liverpool, and Huyton to Wigan: by early 2015...Preston to Blackpool: by Winter 2016/17
  2. ↑ "Better rail services become a reality between Liverpool Lime Street and Manchester Airport station". Network Rail Media Centre. Network Rail. 5 March 2015. Archived from the original on 31 August 2017. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
  3. 1 2 "Northern Launches New Look Electric Trains". Northern Rail. 12 Feb 2015. Retrieved 20 Jun 2015. Since taking ownership of the first of 20 trains in summer 2014, work to give them all a fresh and exciting new look has been ongoing. The trains, which will start running on the newly electrified line between Liverpool Lime Street and Manchester Airport once work on the route is complete, ... The Class 319 trains have had extensive cosmetic work done ahead of their maiden journeys with striking new look exterior paintwork, as well as refreshed and modernised interiors which include new paintwork and improved seating for a more comfortable journey.
  4. ↑ "Sitting Pretty In More Seats in Manchester and Liverpool Stations". Northern Rail. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
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