Northern Trains Limited

Northern Trains Limited: train operator for the north of England

Northern Trains Limited is a rail company operating in the north of England. Its activity focuses on selling train tickets, managing season tickets and providing information on timetables, stations and destinations across its network. The company presents itself as an operator seeking to improve service for customers and the communities it serves, and invites travellers to join its customer panel, known as the Northerneers.

Tickets and travel options

The ticket range includes a wide variety of options. These include Advance, Duo, Northern Explorer, Flexi Season, Barcode Season, Education Season, University Season, Employee Season, Ranger and Rover, Anytime, Off-Peak, Peak, Family, Student and Kids Go Half Price tickets, as well as the Explorer 55. The company also offers season tickets, such as Barcode Season Tickets, the Flexi Season Ticket and Smart Season Tickets, along with various season ticket options and benefits for regular travellers (Commuter Perks). It also sells Railcards and has pay-as-you-go systems on specific routes, such as Leeds-Harrogate and Sheffield-Doncaster.

The website states that Advance tickets can save up to 60% on various routes if bought in advance. It also advertises a group travel promotion: the Group Travel Sale, with discounts of up to 75% when ten or more people travel together. For commuting, the company notes that you can save up to £76 on train travel, and offers a savings calculator that compares train with car on commuter routes in Manchester.

Mobile app and planning tools

Northern has a mobile app that allows you to plan and buy tickets, receive them directly on your phone and check real-time information, with a contact-free travel format. The website also offers a journey planner, up-to-date timetables online, a network map and a WhatsApp service for enquiries. It also publishes information on services, engineering works and possible disruption on the network.

Stations and destinations in the north

Northern's network covers destinations such as Baildon, Blackpool, Carlisle, Chester, Cumbria and the Lake District, Harrogate, Hull, Lancashire, Leeds, Lincoln, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Northumberland, Nottingham, Sheffield, the Peak District, the Yorkshire Coast, the Yorkshire Dales and York. The company also groups together leisure ideas and getaways in the north, with listings of seasonal activities, things to do on rainy or sunny days, Halloween and Bonfire Night events, autumn woodland walks, beaches and dog-friendly ideas, family ideas, theme parks, walking routes and food and drink suggestions in various northern cities.

Accessibility and passenger assistance

The company has an accessibility hub and an assisted travel service. It offers information on the use of mobility scooters, which can travel on all types of Northern trains with a free permit, and on carrying bicycles and e-scooters. It also publishes tips for travelling with children, rules on face mask use where applicable, information on station parking and advice for travelling with confidence. In terms of customer service, it has a help and support centre, delay management, compensation and refunds, a form to report incidents, information on cancellations, complaints and a lost property service.

Corporate and service information

Northern Trains Limited publishes content on its relationship with the Department for Transport (DfT Operator), its stakeholder portal, partnership opportunities, careers, community, sustainability, news, freedom of information and procurement. It also details its customer commitment, its safety and security policy, cybersecurity compliance and its equality, diversity and gender pay gap reports. The website includes a contact directory and an FAQ section on buying tickets on board, bank holidays and other practical aspects of travel.