Northern

This week Tony Plumbley was interviewed by the Rail Director magazine discussing his role leading engineering preparations for the roll out of European Train Control Systems (ETCS). Here at Northern, Tony has been involved in many projects, delivering our digital trains programme, helping to develop a new operations management and maintenance system, and supporting the preparation of our fleet for Autumn leaf fall. Tony said, "Northern has given me so many great opportunities to work on exciting new projects with real-world customer benefits" Read the full interview here🚆 ➡️ https://lnkd.in/e62R_cW4

Earlier this month John Lombard was appointed as the new head of architecture within our IT department here at Northern. Lombard, who was born in Zimbabwe and lives in Skipton (North Yorkshire), has a degree in computer science from The University of Johannesburg. In this role, he will lead a team focused on developing innovative solutions for software challenges and establishing a sustainable framework for ongoing projects. John said: “I’m excited to get stuck-in and work with my team of IT architects to ensure the best possible solutions to the issues facing our colleagues across the North of England.” Read more here 💙👉 https://lnkd.in/eMNUUF-Z

As half term approaches, we want to remind guardians about rail travel options. Children aged 5 to 15 can travel for half price, and those under five ride free with fare-paying adults. For families planning multiple outings, a Rover ticket offers discounted travel over seven consecutive days for easy ‘hop on and hop off’ access during the holidays. Duo tickets provide a 25% discount for groups of two traveling together. Cyclists should note that there is a limit of two bikes per train and storage operates on a first-come, first-served basis at stations. Matt Rice, our chief operating officer said: “Our trains call at more than 500 stations across the North of England, so wherever you’re going we can help get you to where you want to be.” Read more here ➡️ 🚆 https://lnkd.in/dHZfjWEV

Matthew Moxon, Head of Talent Acquisition here at Northern, shared his insights last week with RailStaff regarding his experience in the rail sector. Mathew joined the rail industry in 2023, and in this interview discussed the unique challenges faced when recruiting for this industry and offered strategies to enhance accessibility in recruitment processes. Read more about Mathews interview here 🚆 👉 https://lnkd.in/ejeKcBrn

Each year we face a long-running battle with the birds at our stations that cause problems with their hazardous and corrosive droppings. We are urging people to refrain from feeding the birds and make sure they don’t leave any unwanted food lying around on the platforms. We have trialled a number of measures to keep the birds away including installing plastic owls, pre recorded hawk sounds, spikes and 'fire gel' on station roofs. However, these measures have not solved the pest problem as some of the pigeons have moved on to other parts of the stations. Read more about our preventative methods and what our Chief Operating Officer has to say here ➡️ https://lnkd.in/gvvGncxa

Alongside Southeastern Railway, London North Eastern Railway, and TransPennine Express we have joined forces to support nine technology startups to help accelerate innovation in the rail industry. One of the Future Labs cohort is Cleancore Intelligence. Cleancore utilises a technology-led approach to remove the human part of compliance record keeping, and optimise cleaning patterns to save money, energy and resources. We caught up with Cleancore to dive into their journey so far. Head over to TheFutureLabs.co.uk for the full story. #FutureLabs #NorthernTrains

Mike Hughes, known to everyone as ‘Sparky’, is a driver at Northern’s TrainCare Centre in Newton Heath. Just last week we shared the opening of a new garden at the depot called ‘Sparky’s Peace and Development Garden’ in tribute to Mikes long service. 🌱 On Wednesday, BBC Radio Manchester hosted "Sparky" to speak about his 50 years on the railway. A really nice conversation and a timely reminder that behind the size and scale of our operations - we're all human and we're trying to help. 💙 You can listen to Mike's interview here ➡️ https://lnkd.in/eYx5U5rt (Mike's bit begins at 42 mins and 22 seconds for anyone wanting to have a listen).

Martin Rodger and Wayne Seddon, two best friends with a combined 63 years on the railway are set to hang up their hats and begin retirement. 🚆💙 Martin is the lead driver team manager at Newcastle station and along with Wayne, driver team manager, is responsible for over 100 train drivers based in the region. Martin joined what was then British Rail as a trainee in 1985 and Wayne joined the industry in 2001. On his retirement, Martin will have 39 years’ service on the railway – just three years short of the 42 years’ service his dad gave to the job – who he says encouraged him to join the industry. Since arranging their joint retirement party, Wayne has agreed to stay on for a further three months, to see the team through the upcoming December 2024 timetable change. Jason Wade, regional director for Northern in the North East, said: “Everyone at Northern in the North East will really miss these guys. We wish them all the best for their retirement.” Read more about their career over the years with us here🚆 👉 https://lnkd.in/etvdRzSn

Over the last year, we have visited almost all of the schools in a two-mile radius of the new Northumberland route to teach pupils how to stay safe on the railway.🚆 Working with Network Rail, Morgan Sindall Construction, Northumberland County Council and Nexus, we have spoken to more than 14,000 children about the dangers of trespassing on a busy railway line. Jason Wade, our regional director, said: “It’s fantastic to see the pupils have responded so well to these sessions and many of them understand that trespassing on the railway can have devastating consequences". “We want everyone in the area to remain safe on the railway, by keeping well away from the track and taking extra care when using one of the level crossings.” Read more about the Northumberland project and what leader of Northumberland County Council have to say here 🚆➡️ https://lnkd.in/et2ubcyp

It’s great to see so many inspiring community rail projects from the North highlighted in the latest Community Rail Network 'Value of Community Rail' report. These initiatives are a testament to how communities are truly at the heart of our railways, bringing people together and creating lasting positive impacts. From enhancing transport connections to promoting social inclusion and boosting local economies, these projects are making a real difference in the North of England. Here are just a few examples: • Leeds-Morecambe CRP: Pioneered the first dementia-friendly railway, improving accessibility and setting a new standard for inclusion. • Derwent Valley CRP: Successfully reinstated hourly services, leading to a 240% rise in passenger numbers and enhancing access for work and leisure. • Community Rail Lancashire: Shaped future rail development in East Lancashire, supporting local growth and connectivity. • Community Rail Cumbria: Advocated for key rail improvements, enhancing accessibility and promoting active travel. • Tyne Valley CRP: Used creative projects to build confidence and reduce travel barriers for marginalized groups. Read the full report and discover more about these incredible projects at https://lnkd.in/eTzGcYy7