Northern (train operating company)

*This article is about the current Northern train operating company. For the former train operating company, see Northern Rail (Serco-Abellio).*

## Overview

### Franchise

Northern
1 April 2016 – 31 March 2025

### Main (s)

North West
North East
Yorkshire and the Humber

### Other (s)

East Midlands
Staffordshire

### Fleet size

354 units
(Four units leased from TransPennine Express)

### Parent company

Arriva UK Trains

**Northern**, the trading name of **Arriva Rail North**, is the primary train operator in Northern England. A subsidiary of Arriva UK Trains, it began operating the Northern franchise on 1 April 2016 and has inherited units from Northern Rail.

## History

In August 2014, the Department for Transport announced that Abellio, Arriva and Govia had been shortlisted to bid for the next Northern franchise.

In May 2016, the Competition and Markets Authority launched what *The Times* called an "... unprecedented investigation into the transport department's decision to award the Northern Rail network to Arriva". This was because the parent company Deutsche Bahn also 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.

## Services

*Main article: List of Northern Rail routes*

Northern took over all the services operated by Northern Rail (also branded Northern) on 1 April 2016 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.

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. Northern will staff some currently unstaffed stations. The first stations to be staffed will be Baildon and Ben Rhydding, 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.
In October 2017, the Cleethorpes to Barton-on-Humber service will transfer to East Midlands Trains. The transfer will include Barrow Haven, Barton upon Humber, Goxhill, Great Coates, Grimsby Docks, Habrough, Healing, New Clee, New Holland, Stallingborough, Thornton Abbey and Ulceby stations.

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

* **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

### Northern Connect

From December 2019, Northern will operate a network of twelve *Northern Connect* interurban express services. Eleven of these will be operated by brand-new Class 195 diesel multiple units and Class 331 electric multiple units, whilst the Middlesbrough to Carlisle via Newcastle route will be operated by refurbished Class 158 units.

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. The routes transferred from the TransPennine franchise will also be part of the *Northern Connect* network.

## External links

Template:Arriva Group UK