New train boss sits down with Tees Valley mayor to discuss rail services in the region

The pair met on Friday (19 July) and discussed:

• The mayor’s priorities for rail & how to get customers ‘back to rail’
• Northern’s role in supporting economic growth & social inclusion
• Northern’s key priority areas; purpose, people and transformation
• The increasing number of apprenticeship opportunities available at Northern for people living in the Tees Valley (which now account for approx. 10% of its workforce)
• Identifying future demand opportunities within the Tees Valley.

They also discussed issues that affect the train operator’s performance in the region, including:

• High levels of staff sickness
• A consistent need to recruit and train new staff following recruitment of Northern staff by long distance operators.

Tricia Williams, managing director of Northern, said: “I’m grateful to Mayor Houchen for the opportunity to sit down and discuss rail services across the Tees Valley.

“We had the chance to exchange views on a number of important topics, not least of all the vital role that both of us see rail playing in the growth agenda for the region."

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “We have huge ambitions to improve how we get around Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool – and we’re always striving to forge better links with the rest of the country.

“We’ve already invested in three of our major stations at Darlington, Middlesbrough and Hartlepool – and we’ve our sights on breathing new life into more.

“We’ve had a good working relationship with Northern – and we’re always looking to secure routes for the future, improve our network now, and make it easier for local people on their journeys. I look forward to that relationship continuing with Tricia at the helm.”

Northern also meets with the Tees Valley Combined Authority, TransPennine Express and Network Rail on a monthly basis to discuss the enhancement of existing stations and issues around line speed and capacity improvements.

Northern serves 23 stations in the Tees Valley and manages the operation of 19 of those stations.

Tricia Williams took the helm at Northern earlier this year having joined the organisation as chief operating officer in 2020.

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