Northern Rail,Companies House extract company no 4619954 Northern Rail Limited branded as Northern, was a British train operating company owned by a 50:50 joint venture between Serco and Abellio that operated the Northern Rail franchise from 2004 until 2016. It was the primary passenger train operator in Northern England, and operated the most stations of any train operating company in the United Kingdom. Northern Rail was replaced on 1 April 2016 by Arriva Rail North.
History In 2000 the Strategic Rail Authority announced that it planned to reorganise the Regional Railways North West and Regional Railways North East franchises operated by First North Western and Arriva 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 to a 50:50 joint venture between Serco and NedRailways, beating FirstGroup. The franchise was awarded for six years and nine months, with a two-year extension subject to performance targets being achieved.
Serco and NedRailways' bid had assumed that some Class 142 Pacer trains would be released imminently when Manchester Metrolink services started between Manchester and Oldham. 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 the Department for Transport confirmed 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 the Secretary of State for Transport announced the franchise would be further extended to February 2016."Railway plan puts new focus on passengers". Secretary of State for Transport statement 26 March 2013.
In August 2014, the Department for Transport announced Abellio, Arriva and Govia had been shortlisted to bid for the next franchise.
On 9 December 2015, it was announced that Arriva trading as Arriva Rail North had been awarded a new franchise to run from 1 April 2016 through to March 2025.
Before Serco and Abellio'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 from to calling at , , , , , , and using a unit. 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 the Todmorden Curve. The service operates hourly, seven days a week.
Former services Services on the route from Thorpes Bridge Junction, Newton Heath to Rochdale East Junction via Oldham, known as the Oldham Loop Line, ceased on 3 October 2009. The line was subsequently converted for Manchester Metrolink operation 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%.Performance figures, Northern Rail. 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 the stated 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 reputation for 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 Class 142, 144, 150, 153, 155, 156 and 158 diesel multiple units and Class 321, 323 and 333 electric multiple units from Arriva Trains Northern and First North Western.
In October 2006 Northern Rail leased six former Central Trains Class 158s that had been on loan to First Great Western.
In March 2007 Northern Rail announced it would be acquiring a further 30 Class 158s from Arriva Trains Wales, Central Trains and First Great Western to replace 26 Class 142 Pacers. In the event, Northern Rail received only 19 Class 158s, but did gain eight centre carriages from East Midlands Trains in 2008 that were inserted into Northern Rail'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 three Class 180s for use on to and services.
From July 2011 Northern Rail received 18 Class 150s from London Midland. In 2011, Northern Rail received the five former Stansted Express Class 322s from First ScotRail.
In March 2015 the first Class 319s entered service on the to service.
Fleet at end of franchise
ClassImageTypeTop speedNumberRoutes Builtmphkm/h37 Loco801302 Cumbrian Coast Line (Monday to Saturday only) Loco-hauled services were operated by Direct Rail Services on behalf of Northern Rail.1960–1965Mark 2 carriageCoach61963–1975DBSO21974142 PacerDMU7512079 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 Victoria1985–1987144 Pacer23 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 pulling Class 158s on the Caldervale line during peak time.1986–1987150/1 Sprinter30 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 Victoria1984–1987150/2 Sprinter28 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)153 Super Sprinter18 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)155 Super Sprinter7 Leeds – Harrogate/Knaresborough/Poppleton (York) York – Knaresborough/Harrogate/Burley Park (Leeds) Leeds – Bradford – Manchester Victoria Leeds – Brighouse – Manchester Victoria (Mondays to Saturdays only)1988156 Super Sprinter42 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)1987–1989158/7 Express Sprinter9014035Express 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.1989–1992158/9 Express Sprinter10319/3EMU10016020Electrified 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 Airport1990 321/93 Wakefield Line Leeds – Doncaster
Also used on peak-time weekday services on the Airedale and Wharfedale lines.1991322519903239014017Electrified 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)1992–199533310016016 Leeds/Bradford Forster Square – Ilkley (Wharfedale Line) Leeds/Bradford Forster Square – Skipton (Airedale Line) Leeds – Bradford Forster Square2000–2003
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 the Oldham Loop Line,Action stations booklet , Network Rail, 2009