Air conditioning, more space and more features: Northern to upgrade North West journeys with longer, better trains

The trains, which will undergo a £25 million programme of improvements before entering service, will begin replacing Northern's existing 'Class 323' fleet from early 2028.

The newer trains will offer customers noticeable improvements, with air conditioning, more carriages, and luggage racks available when the trains enter service. 

At-seat power points will also be available on many routes across the North West for the first time with the introduction of the newer trains. 

They will also feature 'Variable Rate Sander (VRS)' technology, a new innovation that can cut the train's stopping distance by up to 50%, helping to keep services running reliably in slippery autumnal and wintery conditions.

Tricia Williams, Managing Director at Northern said: "The introduction of these trains is fantastic news for our customers across the North West.

"These trains are much newer than the trains they are replacing, which are now reaching the end of their working lives. They will make a real difference to our customers, with air conditioning, more carriages, more space and a more pleasant environment throughout. They'll also be more reliable, and built entirely around what our customers have been asking us for."

Rail Minister, Lord Peter Hendy, said: “Passengers across Manchester and the North West deserve a railway that is reliable, comfortable and fit for the future. These refurbished trains will deliver immediate improvements, with more space, air conditioning and greater reliability.

“Coming shortly after our £1 billion investment in a new fleet of British-built trains for the North, this is another step in our transformation of the railways. Through setting up Great British Railways, bringing track and train together to deliver the services that passengers and customers expect, helping to support growth across the North and delivering a rail network that people can be proud of."

Mary Grant, CEO at Porterbrook said: “This excellent train fleet will reliably serve Northern’s passengers for many years to come. The Class 350s are consistently amongst the top performing trains on the network, and our £25m investment ensures they’ll be equipped with all the modern features needed for a comfortable and dependable journey.”  

Aglaja Schneider, Joint CEO and Managing Director, Rolling Stock and Customer Services at Siemens Mobility UK&I, said: "It is great to see the refurbished 350/2 fleet moving over to Northern, which will deliver real benefits for passengers travelling across Manchester and the wider North-West. Once the interior and exterior upgrade is completed at our train modification centre in Northampton, we will be maintaining these trains out of our Ardwick depot, ensuring the trains are ready for passenger journeys across the North.  

"By introducing upgraded rolling stock with improved comfort, increased capacity and enhanced reliability, alongside innovative technologies that help improve operational performance, we are helping to create a better travel experience for customers today while supporting the future growth of Britain's railway.

"This investment demonstrates the value of collaboration across the rail industry and our shared commitment to building a modern, passenger-focused railway that serves communities, supports economic growth and encourages more people to choose rail." 

The introduction of the Class 350 trains comes in addition to Northern's 'game-changing' investment in a fleet of new trains for the North, which will see up to 450 brand new trains entering service from around 2030 onwards.

The Class 350 trains will help to improve reliability ahead of the delivery of Northern's new trains.

Northern is the second largest train operator in the UK, with 2,650 services a day to more than 500 stations across the North of England.