Northern Rail

This article is about the train operating company owned by Serco-Abellio. For the current operator, seeNorthern Trains.For similarly named companies, seeNorthern#Companies.

Northern Rail

Class 142Pacerat Castleton East Junction in 2008
Overview
Franchise(s)	Northern Rail 12 December 2004 – 31 March 2016
Main region(s)	North West,North East, Yorkshire and the Humber
Other region(s)	East MidlandsandStaffordshire
Fleet size	333
Stations called at	526
Stations operated	464
Parent company	Serco-Abellio
Reporting mark	NT
Predecessor	Arriva Trains Northern First North Western
Successor	Arriva Rail North
Other
Website	www.northernrail.org

Northern Rail,branded asNorthern,was an Englishtrain operating companyowned bySerco-Abelliothat operated the Northern Rail franchise from 2004 until 2016. It was the primary passenger train operator inNorthern England,and operated the most stations of any train operating company in the United Kingdom. Northern Rail was replaced on 1 April 2016 byArriva Rail North.

History

In 2000 theStrategic Rail Authorityannounced that it planned to reorganise the Regional Railways North West and Regional Railways North East franchises operated byFirst North WesternandArriva Trains Northern.A TransPennine Express franchise would be created for the long-distance regional services, with the remaining services to be operated by a new Northern Rail franchise.

On 1 July 2004 the Strategic Rail Authority awarded the franchise toSerco-NedRailways,beatingFirstGroup.The franchise was awarded for six years and nine months, with a two-year extension subject to performance targets being achieved.

Serco-NedRailways' bid had assumed that someClass 142Pacertrains would be released imminently whenManchester Metrolinkservices started betweenManchesterandOldham.Due to a substantial delay in extending the Metrolink, it became clear that this was not going to be the case.As a result, the contract signing was delayed, and the services operated by First North Western and Arriva Trains Northern did not transfer to Northern until 12 December 2004.

In May 2010 theDepartment for Transportconfirmed that Northern had met the performance targets, and the franchise was extended for two years until September 2013.In May 2012 the Department for Transport granted Northern a six-month extension until 31 March 2014.In March 2013 theSecretary of State for Transportannounced the franchise would be further extended to February 2016.

In August 2014, the Department for Transport announcedAbellio,ArrivaandGoviahad been shortlisted to bid for the next franchise.

On 9 December 2015, it was announced that Arriva trading asArriva Rail Northhad been awarded a new franchise to run from 1 April 2016 through to March 2025.

Before Abellio and Serco's Northern Rail franchise came to an end, unit 158906 received a refurbishment on one of its carriages which included free Wi-Fi, destination displays showing the expected time of arrival, and USB ports at each table.

Services

Additional services

In December 2008 Northern Rail introduced an express service fromLeedstoNottinghamcalling atWakefield Kirkgate,Barnsley,Meadowhall,Sheffield,Dronfield,Chesterfield,AlfretonandLangley Millusing aClass 158unit. The 10:17 service from Sheffield on Sundays continues to Carlisle creating a direct train service between Sheffield and Carlisle for the first time since the demise of British Rail. The service returns from Carlisle at 15:10.

In May 2015 Northern Rail announced the re-introduction of a direct service between Blackburn and Manchester Victoria via Burnley following the reopening of theTodmorden Curve.The service operates hourly, seven days a week.

Former services

Services on the route from Thorpes Bridge Junction,Newton HeathtoRochdaleEast Junction via Oldham, known as theOldham Loop Line,ceased on 3 October 2009. The line was subsequently converted forManchester Metrolinkoperation and reopened as a Metrolink route in 2012.

Northern Electrics was a brand offering electrified rail from Liverpool to Manchester.

Performance

Northern Rail won Public Transport Operator of the Year 2007 at the National Transport Awards and was praised by the judges for attracting 20% more passengers since 2004.When the extension of its franchise was announced, Northern Rail stated that it had improved punctuality from 83.7% in the 12 months to December 2004 to 91.6% in the 12 months to May 2010, meaning that around 200 more trains per day were on time than in 2004.

In the period 15 October 2009 to 14 November 2009, Northern's punctuality was 91.1% and reliability was 92.2%.Northern Rail's passenger charter targets were 91% for punctuality and 99% for reliability.

The franchise agreement commits to a 15% reduction in delays in the first five years and to a new 'incentive/penalty regime' and a more 'local focus on performance'.

The latest official figures released by NR (Network Rail) rate punctuality (PPM) at 91.9% and an MAA of 90.7% for period 7 (2013/2014) and the 12 months up to 12 October 2013.

The annual report for 2012, published in March 2013, of theNederlandse Spoorwegenstated that Northern Rail transported 263,000 passengers daily. The customer satisfaction decreased to 80%. In May 2011 Northern Rail received the "Sustainable Business of the Year" award.

Criticism

Approach to fare evasion

Northern Rail had a reputationfor its rather tough approach on fare evasion, and was known to take passengers to court for underpaying by a matter of pence.

Rolling stock

Northern Rail operated a large diesel fleet, which was used on most services. There was also a smaller electric fleet used on shorter distance services around Leeds and Manchester and on services between Liverpool and Manchester.

Northern Rail inherited a fleet of Class142,144,150,153,155,156and158diesel multiple unitsand Class321,323and333electric multiple unitsfromArriva Trains NorthernandFirst North Western.

In October 2006 Northern Rail leased six formerCentral TrainsClass 158s that had been on loan toFirst Great Western.

In March 2007 Northern Rail announced it would be acquiring a further 30 Class 158s fromArriva Trains Wales,Central Trains and First Great Western to replace 26 Class 142Pacers.In the event, Northern Rail received only 19 Class 158s, but did gain eight centre carriages fromEast Midlands Trainsin 2008 that were inserted into Northern's ex-First North Western Class 158s.Twelve of the Class 142s were placed in store, then sublet to First Great Western from late 2007; five were returned to Northern Rail in the autumn of 2008 with the remaining seven following in the autumn of 2011.

From December 2008 until December 2011 Northern Rail leased threeClass 180sfor use onBlackpool NorthtoManchester VictoriaandHazel Groveservices.

From July 2011 Northern Rail received 18 Class 150s fromLondon Midland.In 2011, Northern Rail received the five formerStansted ExpressClass 322sfromFirst ScotRail.

In March 2015 the firstClass 319sentered service on theLiverpool Lime StreettoManchester Airportservice.

Fleet at end of franchise

Class	Image	Type	Top speed		Number	Routes	Built
			mph	km/h
37		Loco	80	130	2	Cumbrian Coast Line (Monday to Saturday only) Loco-hauled services were operated byDirect Rail Serviceson behalf of Northern Rail.	1960–1965
Mark 2 carriage		Coach			6		1963–1975
		DBSO			2		1974
142Pacer		DMU	75	120	79	Manchester Victoria – Southport/Kirkby Chester – Manchester Piccadilly Southport – Chester (Sundays only) Manchester Piccadilly – New Mills/Rose Hill Marple/Sheffield Leeds – Morecambe/Lancaster/Sheffield/York Liverpool Lime St – Manchester Oxford Rd/Blackpool North Huddersfield – Manchester Victoria Colne – Blackpool South Cumbrian Coast Line Newcastle – Hexham/Middlesbrough Bishop Auckland/Darlington – Saltburn Middlesbrough – Hexham Crewe/Alderley Edge/Macclesfield – Manchester Piccadilly Stockport – Stalybridge (one train a week, northbound only) MetroCentre & Newcastle – Morpeth & Chathill Sheffield – Lincoln Sheffield – Brigg – Cleethorpes (Saturdays only) Hull – York Blackburn – Manchester Victoria	1985–1987
144Pacer					23	Leeds – Harrogate/York/Manchester Victoria (stopper)/Huddersfield/Goole/Sheffield/Morecambe Sheffield/Wakefield Westgate – Huddersfield Sheffield – Scunthorpe/Lincoln Sheffield – Brigg – Cleethorpes (Saturdays only) Sheffield – Barnsley – Penistone – Huddersfield Also seen sometimes pullingClass 158son theCaldervale lineduring peak time.	1986–1987
150/1Sprinter					30	Manchester Victoria – Clitheroe/Leeds/Selby Colne – Blackpool South Manchester Piccadilly – Buxton/Sheffield/Rose Hill Marple Liverpool Lime Street – Blackpool North/Manchester Oxford Rd Manchester Victoria/Airport – Wigan Wallgate/Southport/Kirkby Chester – Manchester Piccadilly Southport – Altrincham – Chester (Sundays only) Blackburn – Manchester Victoria Huddersfield – Manchester Victoria	1984–1987
150/2Sprinter					28	Manchester Victoria – Clitheroe/Leeds Huddersfield – Selby Colne – Blackpool South Wakefield Kirkgate – Knottingley Manchester Piccadilly – Buxton/Sheffield/Rose Hill Marple Liverpool Lime Street – Blackpool North/Manchester Oxford Rd Manchester Victoria/Airport – Wigan Wallgate/Southport Chester – Altrincham – Manchester Piccadilly Southport – Altrincham – Chester (Sundays only) Blackburn – Manchester Victoria Huddersfield – Manchester Victoria York – Knaresborough/Harrogate/Burley Park (Leeds) Leeds – Harrogate/Knaresborough/Poppleton (York)
153Super Sprinter					18	Manchester Victoria – Clitheroe Colne – Blackpool South Preston – Ormskirk Leeds – Knottingley Wakefield Kirkgate – Knottingley Morecambe/Heysham Port/Lancaster – Barrow in Furness/Maryport/Carlisle (Cumbrian Coast Line) Cleethorpes – Barton-on-Humber (Barton Line) Also seen coupled to other trains for additional capacity, sometimes seen in South Yorkshire replacing services usually run by Pacers.	1987–1988 (converted 1991–1992)
155Super Sprinter					7	Leeds – Harrogate/Knaresborough/Poppleton (York) York – Knaresborough/Harrogate/Burley Park (Leeds) Leeds – Bradford – Manchester Victoria Leeds – Brighouse – Manchester Victoria (Mondays to Saturdays only)	1988
156Super Sprinter					42	Colne – Blackpool South (Sundays only) Cumbrian Coast Line Newcastle – Carlisle Blackpool North – Manchester Victoria Preston – Hazel Grove Liverpool Lime Street – Blackpool North/Manchester Oxford Road Manchester Piccadilly – Rose Hill Marple/Buxton/Sheffield Helsby – Ellesmere Port/Warrington Bank Quay Manchester Victoria/Airport – Wigan Wallgate/Southport/Kirkby Chester – Manchester Piccadilly Southport – Altrincham – Chester (Sundays only) Nunthorpe – Hexham (select journeys only) Middlesbrough – Whitby Middlesbrough – Carlisle (select journeys only; 2 were transferred to East Midlands Trains 2012 to 2013)	1987–1989
158/7Express Sprinter			90	140	35	Express services including: York – Blackpool North Nottingham – Sheffield – Barnsley – Leeds Hull – York Sheffield/Hull – Bridlington/Scarborough Leeds – Carlisle Leeds – Brighouse – Manchester Victoria (Mondays to Saturdays only) Leeds – Bradford – Manchester Victoria Also occasionally seen on the Harrogate Line and other services as a replacement for booked Class 142/144/150s etc.	1989–1992
158/9Express Sprinter					10
319/3		EMU	100	160	20	Electrified services out of Liverpool Lime Street: Liverpool Lime Street – Manchester Airport/Manchester Victoria/Warrington Bank Quay Liverpool Lime Street – Wigan North Western Liverpool Lime Street/Liverpool South Parkway – Preston Manchester Piccadilly – Manchester Airport	1990
321/9					3	Wakefield Line Leeds – Doncaster Also used on peak-time weekday services on the Airedale and Wharfedale lines.	1991
322					5		1990
323			90	140	17	Electrified routes in and out of Manchester Piccadilly: Manchester Piccadilly – Alderley Edge/Crewe/Glossop/Hadfield/Hazel Grove/Macclesfield/Manchester Airport/Stoke-on-Trent/Manchester United Football Ground (selected matchdays only)	1992–1995
333			100	160	16	Leeds/Bradford Forster Square – Ilkley (Wharfedale Line) Leeds/Bradford Forster Square – Skipton (Airedale Line) Leeds – Bradford Forster Square	2000–2003

Stations

In 2009, Northern Rail operated 471 stations; more than any other train operating company in the UK. The number fell to 462 later in the same year following closure of theOldham Loop Line, and increased to 463 by 2013.New stations includeBuckshaw Parkwayin 2011, andJames Cookin 2014. By 2013, trains operated by Northern Rail called at 526 stations.

Depots

The maintenance depots used by Northern Rail were located at:

• Allerton(AN)
• Blackpool North LMD(BP)
• Barrow-in-Furness (BW) (Overnight cleaning)
• Buxton (BX) (Overnight Cleaning)
• Carlisle Station (Overnight cleaning)
• Heaton(Newcastle upon Tyne) (HT)
• Hull Botanic Gardens(BG)
• Longsight TRSMD(Manchester) (LO)
• Neville Hill(Leeds) (NL)
• Leeds Holbeck(HO) (Light maintenance and Refurbishments)
• Newton Heath TMD(Manchester) (NH)
• Sheffield Station (SM)
• Stockport Carriage Sidings(SQ) (Light maintenance and cleaning)
• Skipton Broughton Road Carriage sidings(333 Stabling)
• Workington (WK) (overnight cleaning for Cumbrian Coast)
• Wigan Wallgate Carriage Sidings (Overnight cleaning)

The train crew depots were located at:

• Leeds
• York
• Newcastle
• Darlington (Driver only)
• Middlesbrough (guard only)
• Carlisle
• Workington
• Blackpool North
• Liverpool Lime Street
• Wigan Wallgate
• Manchester Victoria
• Manchester Piccadilly
• Buxton
• Sheffield
• Skipton
• Huddersfield
• Harrogate
• Hull Paragon
• Barrow-in-Furness
• Doncaster

To run the Cleethorpes to Barton service, one class 153 was stabled at Cleethorpes overnight and was cleaned, the train crew which ran the service wereFirst TransPennine Expressstaff.

External links

• Media related toNorthern Railat Wikimedia Commons
• Official website