One third of Northern's brand new trains now serving customers
One third of Northern’s fleet of brand new trains is now in service – getting customers where they need to be each day in more comfort than ever before.
The £500m investment in 101 brand new trains is well on track with 33 of the Class 195 and Class 331 trains operating on a number of routes.
The new trains feature free Wi-Fi, air-conditioning, at-seat power and customer information/media screens with real-time information. They are also more spacious for customers and are fully accessible with spaces for wheelchairs and bikes.
David Brown, Northern’s Managing Director, said: “The Northern network is busier than it has been for a generation – more than 100 million customer journeys will be made on Northern services in 2019 – and the introduction of new trains is at the heart of our transformation for customers.
“We are delighted, therefore, that even more customers travelling across the north are now served by brand new trains –more than one million customer journeys have already been made on the new trains.”
David added: “These fantastic trains are a true step-change in travelling experience and we are extremely proud to be delivering a £500m investment.
“Today we are really pleased to have 33 brand new trains carrying customers, with more to come throughout 2019 and into 2020."
New trains are now in operation in the following towns and cities:
Greater Manchester, Cumbria, Lancashire and Merseyside
Manchester, Manchester Airport, Rochdale, Wigan, Barrow, Blackpool, Lancaster, Oxenholme Preston, Windermere, Liverpool, Newton-le-Willows and St Helens
Cheshire
Chester, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Holmes Chapel, Warrington and Wilmslow
West Yorkshire
Bradford, Halifax, Ilkley, Keighley, Leeds, Skipton and Wakefield
South Yorkshire
Doncaster
Towards the end of the year Northern is set to introduce more new trains with the majority of fleet expected to be in service and carrying customers in locations including Bolton, Blackburn, York, Sheffield, Barnsley, Lincoln and Nottingham.
Contact Information
Glyn Hellam
Media Manager
Northern
01904 568652
07795 008693
Glyn.Hellam@northernrailway.co.uk
@northern_pr
Notes to editors
The new trains have been funded by Eversholt Rail Group and are built in Spain and in Wales by train manufacturer CAF.
Northern’s new trains are part of the largest modernisation programme in a generation that is transforming travel in the north of England. It is currently fully refurbishing its existing fleet of 268 trains, improving its stations and has introduced more than 2,000 extra services every week since 2016.
- Main pictures shows David Brown with one of the new Class 195 trains at Windermere.
- Other photos show the new trains at launches which have taken place across the network