Northern Trains facts for kids

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This page is about the current operator of the Northern franchise. For the previous operator of the Northern franchise, see Arriva Rail North.

Quick facts for kids
Northern

A Northern Class 331 in November 2023 at Stoke-on-Trent

Overview

Franchise(s)

Northern

Main region(s)

Other region(s)

Fleet size

368

Stations called at

474

Parent company

DfT OLR Holdings

Headquarters

York

Reporting mark

Dates of operation

1 March 2020 – 1 March 2025

Predecessor

Arriva Rail North

Route map

Northern Trains, trading as Northern, is a British train operating company owned by DfT OLR Holdings for the Department for Transport (DfT), after the previous operator Arriva Rail North had its franchise terminated at the end of February 2020.

The company commenced operating the Northern franchise on 1 March 2020, taking over from Arriva Rail North. The prior operator had its franchise terminated early by the DfT in January 2020 amid widespread dissatisfaction over its performance, particularly in respect of poorly implemented timetable changes. The DfT had opted to hand the operation of the franchise over to the operator of last resort. At the commencement of operations, Northern publicly stated that its immediate aims were to improve service reliability and to proceed with the introduction of new rolling stock. For the latter, both the Class 195 diesel multiple units and Class 331 electric multiple units were brought into service fully during December 2020.

Services have been disrupted by wider events, particularly the COVID-19 pandemic. Northern is also being impacted by the 2022–2024 United Kingdom railway strikes, the largest national rail strikes in the UK in three decades.

History
- Background
- Changes and events
Services
- Table of off-peak services
- Parliamentary services
Rolling stock
Depots

History

Background

In December 2015, the Department for Transport (DfT) awarded Arriva a contract to operate the Northern franchise as Arriva Rail North. It commenced in April 2016 and was originally scheduled to run until March 2025. Within two years, the franchise was being widely criticised, in particular for troubled implementation of a new timetable in May 2018 that resulted in widespread delays and cancellations. Later in 2018 performance continued to suffer, with many passengers protesting and a reduced service on Saturdays due to industrial action. By November 2018, Arriva were re-evaluating their future involvement in the franchise due to a combination of declining passenger numbers as a result of the chaotic May 2018 timetable change and increasing compensation claims as a result of falling punctuality.

In June 2019, the DfT's operator of last resort, DfT OLR Holdings, conducted due diligence into the franchise believing the both operational and financial performance to be "unsustainable". In October 2019, the Secretary of State for Transport, Grant Shapps, issued a request for proposals to incumbent operator Arriva and the operator of last resort, which would result in termination of the franchise with either Arriva to be awarded a short-term management contract or the operator of last resort to take over. In January 2020, Shapps publicly criticised Arriva's operation of the Northern franchise and suggested that the Government may step in to revoke its franchise agreement, bluntly referring to the service as "completely unacceptable".

On 29 January 2020, the DfT announced its decision to terminate Arriva Rail North as operator of the franchise, to be taken over by the DfT's operator of last resort. This was the first time that a franchise has been removed from a train operating company due to poor performance since Connex South Eastern in 2003. On 1 March 2020, the franchise became directly operated by DfT OLR Holdings with the stated objective to "stabilise performance and restore reliability for passengers".

Changes and events

By mid-2020, Northern had considerably curtailed its services in response to the significant decline of passenger travel amid the COVID-19 pandemic. From 15 June 2020, both passengers and staff on public transport in England, including Northern services, were required to wear face coverings while travelling, and that anyone failing to do so would be liable to be refused travel or fined.

In 2021 Northern was given a contract by the Department for Transport to run services for three years, with an optional extension of a further two years. The contract was updated in 2022, to run until 1 March 2025.

Northern is one of several train operators impacted by the 2022–2024 United Kingdom railway strikes, which are the first national rail strikes in the UK for three decades. Its workers are amongst those who voted to take industrial action due a dispute over pay and working conditions. Northern urged the travelling public to avoid travelling on its services on any of the planned dates for the strikes, being only capable of operating a minimal timetable due to the number of staff involved.

Services

Northern took over all the services operated by Arriva Rail North on 1 March 2020.

Table of off-peak services

Below is a simplified list of frequent Monday to Saturday off-peak services, as of December 2023 timetables. Due to the extensive nature of the network, it has been split by region, then majority rail line. One of the changes to the December timetable is the four trains per day service between Huddersfield and Castleford (which was frequently run as a bus rail replacement service), has been moved to TransPennine Express, and extended to start at Manchester Piccadilly, and run to York via Castleford.

North East

Tyne Valley, Durham Coast, Esk Valley Lines and East Coast Main Line
Route	tph	Calling at
Carlisle to Newcastle	1	Haltwhistle, Hexham, Prudhoe, MetroCentre
Carlisle to Morpeth	1	Wetheral, Brampton (1tp2h), Haltwhistle, Bardon Mill (1tp2h), Haydon Bridge, Hexham, Prudhoe, MetroCentre, Newcastle, Manors, Cramlington Trains either serve Brampton, or Bardon Mill 2 trains per day continue to Chathill, calling at Pegswood, Widdrington, Acklington and Alnmouth
Hexham to Nunthorpe	1	Corbridge, Riding Mill, Stocksfield, Prudhoe, Wylam, Blaydon, MetroCentre, Dunston, Newcastle, Heworth, Sunderland, Seaham, Horden, Hartlepool, Seaton Carew, Billingham, Stockton, Thornaby, Middlesbrough, James Cook University Hospital, Marton, Gypsy Lane
Middlesbrough to Whitby	1⁄4	James Cook University Hospital, Marton, Gypsy Lane, Nunthorpe, Great Ayton, Battersby, Kildale, Commondale, Castleton Moor, Danby, Lealholm, Glaisdale, Egton, Grosmont, Sleights, Ruswarp
Darlington to Newcastle	1tpd	Durham, Chester-le-Street
Tees Valley Line
Route	tph	Calling at
Saltburn to Darlington	1	Marske, Longbeck, Redcar East, Redcar Central, Middlesbrough, Thornaby, Eaglescliffe, Allens West, Dinsdale
Saltburn to Bishop Auckland	1	Marske, Longbeck, Redcar East, Redcar Central, South Bank, Middlesbrough, Thornaby, Eaglescliffe, Allens West, Dinsdale, Darlington, North Road, Heighington, Newton Aycliffe, Shildon

North West

Furness, Windermere and Cumbrian Coast lines
Route	tph	Calling at
Manchester Airport to Barrow-in-Furness	1	Gatley, Manchester Piccadilly, Manchester Oxford Road, Deansgate, Bolton, Chorley, Preston, Lancaster, Carnforth, Silverdale, Arnside, Grange-over-Sands, Kents Bank, Cark, Ulverston, Dalton, Roose 4 trains per day each run as Manchester Airport to Windermere, and Lancaster to Carlisle, services instead.
Barrow-in-Furness to Carlisle	1	Askam, Kirkby-in-Furness, Foxfield, Green Road, Millom, Silecroft, Bootle, Ravenglass, Drigg, Seascale, Sellafield, St Bees, Corkickle, Whitehaven, Parton, Harrington, Workington, Flimby, Maryport, Aspatria, Wigton, Dalston 4 trains per day run as Lancaster to Carlisle services
Oxenholme Lake District to Windermere	1	Kendal, Burneside, Staveley 4 trains per day run as Manchester Airport to Windermere services
Morecambe branch line
Route	tph	Calling at
Lancaster to Morecambe	1	Bare Lane Hourly service supplemented/modified by additional trains from Leeds. 1 train per day extends to Heysham Port.
Liverpool–Wigan and Blackpool branch lines
Route	tph	Calling at
Liverpool Lime Street to Wigan North Western	2	Edge Hill, Wavertree Technology Park, Broad Green, Roby, Huyton, Prescot, Eccleston Park, Thatto Heath, St Helens Central, Garswood, Bryn
Liverpool Lime Street to Blackpool North	1	Huyton, St Helens Central, Wigan North Western, Euxton Balshaw Lane, Leyland, Preston, Poulton-le-Fylde
Manchester Airport to Blackpool North	2	Heald Green (1tph), Manchester Piccadilly, Manchester Oxford Road, Deansgate, Salford Crescent, Bolton, Lostock, Horwich Parkway, Blackrod (1tph), Adlington (1tph), Chorley, Buckshaw Parkway, Leyland, Preston, Kirkham & Wesham, Poulton-le-Fylde, Layton (1tph)
Preston to Blackpool South	1	Salwick (3tpd), Kirkham & Wesham, Moss Side, Lytham, Ansdell & Fairhaven, St Annes-on-the-Sea, Squires Gate, Blackpool Pleasure Beach
East Lancashire and Ormskirk branch lines
Route	tph	Calling at
Preston to Colne	1	Lostock Hall, Bamber Bridge, Pleasington, Cherry Tree, Mill Hill, Blackburn, Rishton, Church & Oswaldtwistle, Accrington, Huncoat, Hapton, Rose Grove, Burnley Barracks, Burnley Central, Brierfield, Nelson
Ormskirk to Preston	1	Burscough Junction, Rufford, Croston
Liverpool–Manchester lines
Route	tph	Calling at
Liverpool Lime Street to Manchester Oxford Road	1	Edge Hill, Mossley Hill, West Allerton, Liverpool South Parkway, Hough Green, Warrington West, Warrington Central, Padgate, Birchwood, Glazebrook (1tp2h), Irlam, Flixton, Chassen Road (1tp2h), Urmston, Humphrey Park (1tp2h), Trafford Park (1tp2h), Deansgate Most trains either call at Glazebrook and Chassen Road or Humphrey Park and Trafford Park.
Liverpool Lime Street to Warrington Central	1	Mossley Hill, West Allerton, Liverpool South Parkway, Hunts Cross, Halewood, Hough Green, Widnes, Sankey for Penketh (2tpd), Warrington West
Liverpool Lime Street to Manchester Airport	1	Edge 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
Warrington Bank Quay to Liverpool Lime Street	1tpd	Earlestown, St Helens Junction, Lea Green, Rainhill, Whiston, Huyton, Roby, Broad Green, Wavertree Technology Park, Edge Hill westbound only
Ellesmere Port to Helsby	2tpd	Ince & Elton 1 train per day continues to Warrington Bank Quay, calling at Frodsham and Runcorn East.
Crewe-Manchester, Mid-Cheshire, Stafford–Manchester, and Buxton lines
Route	tph	Calling at
Manchester Piccadilly to Crewe	1	Mauldeth Road, Burnage, East Didsbury, Gatley, Heald Green, Manchester Airport, Styal, Wilmslow, Alderley Edge, Holmes Chapel, Sandbach
Manchester Piccadilly to Crewe	1	Levenshulme, Heaton Chapel, Stockport, Cheadle Hulme, Handforth, Wilmslow, Alderley Edge, Chelford, Goostrey, Holmes Chapel, Sandbach
Manchester Piccadilly to Alderley Edge	1	Levenshulme, Heaton Chapel, Stockport, Cheadle Hulme, Handforth, Wilmslow
Manchester Piccadilly to Chester	1	Stockport, Navigation Road, Altrincham, Hale, Ashley, Mobberley, Knutsford, Plumley, Lostock Gralam, Northwich, Greenbank, Cuddington, Delamere, Mouldsworth
Manchester Piccadilly to Stoke-on-Trent	1	Stockport, Cheadle Hulme, Bramhall, Poynton, Adlington, Prestbury, Macclesfield, Congleton, Kidsgrove
Manchester Piccadilly to Buxton	1	Levenshulme, Heaton Chapel, Stockport, Davenport, Woodsmoor, Hazel Grove, Middlewood (1tp2h), Disley, New Mills Newtown, Furness Vale, Whaley Bridge, Chapel-en-le-Frith, Dove Holes (1tp2h) Services either call at Middlewood or Dove Holes.
Manchester Piccadilly to Hazel Grove	1	Levenshulme, Heaton Chapel, Stockport, Davenport, Woodsmoor
Glossop and Hope Valley lines
Route	tph	Calling at
Manchester Piccadilly to Hadfield	2	Ashburys, Guide Bridge, Flowery Field, Newton for Hyde, Godley, Hattersley, Broadbottom, Dinting, Glossop
Manchester Piccadilly to Rose Hill Marple	4⁄3	Gorton, Fairfield, Guide Bridge, Hyde North, Hyde Central, Woodley, Romiley
Manchester Piccadilly to New Mills Central	1	Ardwick (1tpd eastbound only), Ashburys, Belle Vue, Ryder Brow, Reddish North, Brinnington, Bredbury, Romiley, Marple, Strines
Manchester Piccadilly to Sheffield	1	Reddish North, Brinnington, Bredbury, Romiley, Marple, New Mills Central, Chinley, Edale, Hope, Bamford, Hathersage, Grindleford, Dore & Totley
Manchester–Southport and Kirkby branch lines
Route	tph	Calling at
Southport to Manchester Oxford Road	1	Meols Cop, Burscough Bridge, Parbold, Appley Bridge, Gathurst, Wigan Wallgate, Hindley, Westhoughton, Bolton, Salford Crescent, Deansgate
Southport to Stalybridge	1	Meols Cop, Bescar Lane (1tp2h), New Lane (1tp2h), Burscough Bridge, Hoscar (1tp2h), Parbold, Appley Bridge, Gathurst, Wigan Wallgate, Hindley, Westhoughton, Bolton, Moses Gate, Farnworth, Kearsley, Clifton (1tpd), Salford Crescent, Salford Central, Manchester Victoria, Ashton-under-Lyne
Headbolt Lane to Blackburn	1	Rainford, Upholland, Orrell, Pemberton, Wigan Wallgate, Hindley, Daisy Hill, Hag Fold, Atherton, Walkden, Swinton, Salford Crescent, Salford Central, Manchester Victoria, Rochdale, Smithy Bridge, Littleborough, Todmorden, Burnley Manchester Road, Rose Grove, Accrington
Ribble Valley line
Route	tph	Calling at
Blackburn to Rochdale	1	Darwen, Bromley Cross, Hall i' th' Wood, Bolton, Salford Crescent, Salford Central, Manchester Victoria, Moston, Mills Hill, Castleton
Clitheroe to Rochdale	1	Whalley, Langho, Ramsgreave & Wilpshire, Blackburn, Darwen, Entwistle, Bromley Cross, Hall i' th' Wood, Bolton, Salford Crescent, Salford Central, Manchester Victoria, Moston, Mills Hill, Castleton

Yorkshire and the Humber

Huddersfield Line
Route	tph	Calling at
Bradford Interchange to Huddersfield	1	Low Moor, Halifax, Brighouse
Wharfedale and Airedale lines
Route	tph	Calling at
Leeds to Bradford Forster Square	2	Kirkstall Forge, Apperley Bridge, Shipley, Frizinghall
Leeds to Ilkley	2	Kirkstall Forge, Guiseley, Menston, Burley-in-Wharfedale, Ben Rhydding
Bradford Forster Square to Ilkley	2	Frizinghall, Shipley, Baildon, Guiseley, Menston, Burley-in-Wharfedale, Ben Rhydding
Leeds to Skipton	2	Shipley, Saltaire, Bingley, Crossflatts, Keighley, Steeton & Silsden, Cononley
Bradford Forster Square to Skipton	2	Frizinghall, Shipley, Saltaire, Bingley, Crossflatts, Keighley, Steeton & Silsden, Cononley
Harrogate Line
Route	tph	Calling at
Leeds to York via Harrogate	2	Burley Park, Headingley, Horsforth, Weeton, Pannal, Hornbeam Park, Harrogate, Starbeck, Knaresborough, Cattal, Hammerton, Poppleton
Pontefract Line
Route	tph	Calling at
Leeds to Knottingley via Castleford	1	Woodlesford, Castleford, Glasshoughton, Pontefract Monkhill 2 trains per day extend to Goole, calling at Whitley Bridge, Hensall, Snaith and Rawcliffe.
Leeds to Knottingley via Streethouse	1	Wakefield Westgate, Wakefield Kirkgate, Streethouse, Featherstone, Pontefract Tanshelf, Pontefract Monkhill
Wakefield Line
Route	tph	Calling at
Leeds to Doncaster	1	Outwood, Wakefield Westgate, Sandal & Agbrigg, Fitzwilliam, South Elmsall, Adwick, Bentley
Leeds to Sheffield via Wakefield Westgate	1	Outwood, Wakefield Westgate, Sandal & Agbrigg, Fitzwilliam, Moorthorpe, Thurnscoe, Goldthorpe, Bolton-upon-Dearne, Swinton, Rotherham Central, Meadowhall
Penistone Line
Route	tph	Calling at
Sheffield to Huddersfield	1	Meadowhall, Chapeltown, Elsecar, Wombwell, Barnsley, Dodworth, Silkstone Common, Penistone, Denby Dale, Shepley, Stocksmoor, Brockholes, Honley, Berry Brow, Lockwood
Hallam Line
Route	tph	Calling at
Leeds to Sheffield via Castleford	1	Woodlesford, Castleford, Normanton, Wakefield Kirkgate, Darton, Barnsley, Wombwell, Elsecar, Chapeltown, Meadowhall
Leeds to Nottingham	1	Wakefield Kirkgate, Barnsley, Meadowhall, Sheffield, Dronfield, Chesterfield, Alfreton, Langley Mill, Ilkeston
Sheffield–Lincoln line
Route	tph	Calling at
Leeds to Lincoln	1	Wakefield Kirkgate, Barnsley, Meadowhall, Sheffield, Darnall, Woodhouse, Kiveton Bridge, Kiveton Park, Shireoaks, Worksop, Retford, Gainsborough Lea Road, Saxilby
Sheffield to Cleethorpes	1tpd	Worksop, Retford, Gainsborough Central, Kirton Lindsey, Brigg, Barnetby, Grimsby Town . See #Parliamentary services below for more.
York and Selby Lines
Route	tph	Calling at
Leeds to York via Cross Gates	1	Cross Gates, Garforth, East Garforth, Micklefield
Halifax to Hull Paragon	1	Bradford Interchange, New Pudsey, Bramley, Leeds, Cross Gates, Garforth, East Garforth, Micklefield, South Milford, Selby, Brough
South Humberside Main Line, Dearne Valley Line and Yorkshire Coast line
Route	tph	Calling at
Doncaster to Scunthorpe	1⁄2	Kirk Sandall, Hatfield & Stainforth, Thorne South, Crowle, Althorpe
Sheffield to Adwick	1	Meadowhall, Rotherham Central, Swinton, Mexborough, Conisbrough, Doncaster, Bentley
Sheffield to York	3tpd	Meadowhall, Rotherham Central, Swinton, Moorthorpe, Pontefract Baghill, Sherburn-in-Elmet, Church Fenton, Ulleskelf
Doncaster to Hull Paragon	1	Kirk Sandall, Hatfield & Stainforth, Thorne North, Goole, Saltmarshe (1tp2h), Gilberdyke, Broomfleet (1tp2h), Brough, Ferriby, Hessle Most services either call at Saltmarshe or call at Broomfleet.
Sheffield to Scarborough	1	Meadowhall, Doncaster, Goole, Brough, Hull Paragon, Cottingham, Beverley, Driffield, Bridlington, Bempton, Hunmanby, Filey, Seamer
Bridlington to York	1	Nafferton, Driffield, Hutton Cranswick, Beverley, Cottingham, Hull Paragon, Brough, Gilberdyke, Howden, Selby, Sherburn-in-Elmet (1tp2h), Church Fenton (1tp2h)
Settle to Carlisle and Leeds to Morecambe
Route	tph	Calling at
Leeds to Carlisle	1⁄2	Shipley, Bingley, Keighley, Skipton, Hellifield, Settle, Horton in Ribblesdale, Ribblehead, Dent, Garsdale, Kirkby Stephen, Appleby, Langwathby, Lazonby & Kirkoswald, Armathwaite
Leeds to Morecambe	1⁄2	Shipley, Bingley, Keighley, Skipton, Gargrave, Hellifield, Long Preston, Giggleswick, Clapham, Bentham, Wennington, Carnforth, Lancaster, Bare Lane
Calder Valley line
Route	tph	Calling at
York to Blackpool North	1	Church Fenton, Garforth, Leeds, New Pudsey, Bradford Interchange, Halifax, Sowerby Bridge, Hebden Bridge, Burnley Manchester Road, Accrington, Blackburn, Preston, Kirkham & Wesham, Poulton-le-Fylde
Leeds to Manchester Victoria	1	Bramley, New Pudsey, Bradford Interchange, Halifax, Hebden Bridge, Todmorden, Rochdale
Leeds to Wigan Wallgate	1	Morley, Batley, Dewsbury, Ravensthorpe, Mirfield, Brighouse, Sowerby Bridge, Mytholmroyd, Hebden Bridge, Todmorden, Walsden, Littleborough, Smithy Bridge, Rochdale, Manchester Victoria, Salford Central, Salford Crescent, Swinton, Moorside, Walkden, Atherton, Hag Fold, Daisy Hill, Hindley, Ince
Leeds to Chester	1	Bramley, New Pudsey, Bradford Interchange, Low Moor, Halifax, Sowerby Bridge, Mytholmroyd, Hebden Bridge, Todmorden, Rochdale, Manchester Victoria, Newton-le-Willows, Earlestown, Warrington Bank Quay

Parliamentary services

Twice weekly on Saturday mornings, once in each direction, Northern operates a parliamentary train on the Stockport–Stalybridge line between Stockport and Stalybridge calling at Reddish South, Denton, and Guide Bridge. From 1992 until 2018, this service ran once weekly.

Multiple campaigns were conducted to request increase in services to the line, but in 2022, Transport for Greater Manchester published two surveys in relation to the line.

As of May 2023, there is one train per day between Sheffield and Cleethorpes, via Gainsborough Central and Brigg. This service runs on weekdays only. The service was suspended between January and October 2022 due to concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Between October 1993 and May 2023, this service ran on Saturdays only, but had three trains each way and on weekdays, a few peak services terminated at Gainsborough Central.

Rolling stock

Northern took over all of the rolling stock operated by its predecessor, namely Class 142, 144, 150, 153, 155, 156, 158, 170 and 195 diesel multiple units and Class 319, 321, 322, 323, 331 and 333 electric multiple units. All Class 321 and 322 units were withdrawn in mid-2020 and moved to Greater Anglia. All Class 153s were sent to storage by December 2021. 23 Class 156 units were transferred from East Midlands Railway, which includes eight of the nine Class 156/9 units formerly used by Greater Anglia, although they were renumbered back to 156/4s before the transfer. For the December timetable change in 2022, five more Class 156 units were transferred. The final Class 156 units were delivered in May 2023. The Class 319s were withdrawn on 2 January 2024.

Current fleet

Family	Class	Image	Type	Top speed		Number	Carriages	Routes	Built
Family	Class	Image	Type	mph	km/h	Number	Carriages	Routes	Built
Diesel multiple units
Sprinter	150		DMU	75	121	6	3	Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Liverpool, West Yorkshire, North Lincolnshire, South Yorkshire and Derbyshire	1984–1987
						72	2		1985–1987
						72	2
	155 Super Sprinter					7	2	York, Leeds, Hull Paragon and Scarborough	1987–1988
	155 Super Sprinter
	156 Super Sprinter					66	2	North East, Cumbrian Coast, Lancashire and Cumbria, Merseyside and Cheshire	1987–1989
	156 Super Sprinter
	158 Express Sprinter			90	145	45	2	South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, Lancashire, Fylde Coast, North Yorkshire and the North East	1990–1992
						8	3		1990–1992

Bombardier Turbostar	170			100	161	16	3	Scarborough - Sheffield, Leeds - York via Harrogate	2003–2005
Bombardier Turbostar	170
CAF Civity	195					25	2	Manchester - Derbyshire, Sheffield, Liverpool, Leeds and Barrow in Furness, York - Blackpool, Windermere and Chester - Leeds	2017–2020
						33	3		2017–2020


	Electric multiple units
Hunslet Transportation Projects/Holec	323		EMU	90	145	17	3	Manchester-Hadfield, Manchester-Stoke-on-Trent, Manchester-Crewe, and Liverpool-Manchester Airport	1992–1995
Hunslet Transportation Projects/Holec	323			90	145
CAF Civity	331			100	161	31	3	Blackpool North - Manchester Airport, Liverpool, Leeds - Skipton, Bradford Forster Square, Doncaster, Ilkley, Bradford Forster Square - Skipton, Ilkley	2017–2020
						12	4	Electric services in the North West.	2017–2020


CAF/Siemens Transportation Systems	333					16	4	Leeds - Bradford Forster Square, Skipton, Ilkley, Bradford Forster Square - Skipton, Ilkley	2000–2003
CAF/Siemens Transportation Systems	333
	Bi-mode multiple units
BR Second Generation (Mark 3)	769 Flex		BMU	100	161	8	4	Southport - Manchester Oxford Road and Stalybridge	2017–2020 (1987–1988 as Class 319)
BR Second Generation (Mark 3)	769 Flex		BMU	100	161

Future fleet

In August 2023, Northern issued a tender to acquire a contract for up to 450 new trains to replace the older rolling stock in their fleet.

17 Class 323s are to be transferred from West Midlands Trains.

Class	Image	Type	Top speed		Number	Carriages	Routes	Built	In service
Class	Image	Type	mph	km/h	Number	Carriages	Routes	Built	In service
Electric multiple units
323		EMU	90	145	17	3	Electrified commuter services in Greater Manchester, Cheshire, Staffordshire, Derbyshire and Merseyside	1992–1995	2024
323		EMU	90	145

Past fleet

Former train types operated by Northern include:

Class	Image	Type	Top speed		Number	Carriages	Routes	Notes	Built	Left fleet
Class	Image	Type	mph	km/h	Number	Carriages	Routes	Notes	Built	Left fleet
142 Pacer		DMU	75	121	79	2	Local and commuter services across the North	Replaced by Class 150, Class 156, Class 158, Class 170, and Class 195 units.	1985–1987	2020
144 Pacer					23	2			1986–1987	2020
153 Super Sprinter					17	1		Replaced by Class 150 units, later sent to storage	1987–1988	2020–2021
Class 319/3		EMU	100	161	19	4	Electrified commuter services in the North West	Replaced by Class 331 units.	1990	2024
321					3		Electrified commuter services in West Yorkshire	Replaced by Class 331 units	1991	2020
322					5		Electrified commuter services in West Yorkshire	Replaced by Class 331 units	1990	2020

Depots

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

Northern's fleet is maintained at depots listed in the table below:

Depot	Allocation	Servicing	Nearest station
Allerton TMD	08, 323, 331, 769	150, 156, 195	Liverpool South Parkway
Blackburn King Street TMD	None	150, 156, 195	Blackburn
Botanic Gardens TMD	170	155, 158	Hull Paragon
Heaton TMD	156, 158		Manors
Holbeck TMD	None	150,158, 195	Leeds
Newton Heath TMD	150, 156, 195	158, 769	Moston
Neville Hill TMD	08, 150, 155, 158, 170, 331, 333	195	Leeds
Wigan Springs Branch TMD	None	158, 195, 331, 769	Wigan North Western

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