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A wide range of roles make up our highly skilled team, from diagnosing and rectifying faults, to building trains, driving trains in and out of our Train Care Centres, and helping the whole operation run smoothly.

We also offer excellent apprenticeship programmes, which offer opportunities to begin a career in one of several engineering specialisms.

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Depot Drivers

When you think of a train driver, you may automatically think of those on the network helping our Northern customers get from A to B.

Depot Drivers

When you think of a train driver, you may automatically think of those on the network helping our Northern customers get from A to B.

However, behind the scenes, we have a dedicated team of Depot Drivers who are in charge of moving our trains around the network for maintenance and repairs.

As a Depot Driver, you'll have the responsibility to ensure trains are prepped and ready to go back onto the network in a timely manner. You’ll also assist with replenishing the water tanks and re-fuelling, as well as being on hand to support the recovery of trains that need to be taken in for unplanned maintenance or repair.

Communication and thinking on your feet are really important as the team works smartly together to diagnose problems and feed the information to the train care teams as well as providing support with moving trains around.

We are looking for people with the following:

  • Excellent communication skills
  • Confidence to build relationships with a wide variety of people and teams
  • The ability to prioritise and be flexible when necessary
  • Excellent decision making skills and adaptability
  • The ability to work to instructions and rules and regulations.

You don’t need previous driving experience as our training course offers all the training you need. You’ll spend your first 5-8 weeks taking part in classroom-based learning in either Leeds or Manchester, followed by up to six months training within our TrainCare Centre with our full support as you develop your skills.

We expect 100% commitment from you on this rewarding yet demanding programme, but our training team will be with you all the way when it comes to ongoing assessments and knowledge checks.

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Engineering Support Functions

Keeping our fleet of over 340 trains running safely and reliably every day

Engineering Support Functions

Keeping our fleet of over 340 trains running safely and reliably every day

Engineering plays a vital part in the smooth running of our passenger services. Owning one of the largest Train Centres in the UK means we offer opportunities in planning, modifying and improving trains, technical support, safety support, auditing, procurement, qualities and facilities management, stock replenishment, fleet refurbishment, project management, system management, and more.

Some roles are based remotely, and some are based on-site at our depots, but each offers a huge variety of tasks and challenges.

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Semi-Skilled & Skilled Fitters

Northern operates up to 2,500 services daily, serving over 500 stations across the region. 

Semi-Skilled & Skilled Fitters

Northern operates up to 2,500 services daily, serving over 500 stations across the region. 

Our vision is more than just train travel, it’s about making a positive impact in the North in all we do and for all we serve and supporting wider economic activity. Having a team of highly skilled fitters carrying out routine inspections and services on our complex fleet is hugely important. 

We operate five train care centres in Heaton, Hull, Leeds, Manchester, and Liverpool. We are always on the lookout for talented engineers to diagnose faults, repair, and maintain our trains keeping them in service and operating at the highest level of safety.

Skilled Fitters guide and train new team members, as well as undertaking a huge variety of day-to-day tasks with the support of Semi-Skilled Fitters.

Northern values specialist engineering skills highly, from fault diagnosis to vehicle building, and gives its team the chance to use their expertise and practical abilities, both in their own roles and in mentoring apprentices. In return, our well-trained Fitters are rewarded with a competitive salary and benefits package.

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Depot Management

Our Depot Management teams play a vital role in keeping our business running 24/7. 

Depot Management

Our Depot Management teams play a vital role in keeping our business running 24/7. 

They look after the day to day operations at our train depots, and teams consist of Team Leaders with solid industry knowledge, Shift Production Managers and Depot Managers with proven leadership skills, and everyone in between.

Together, they’re all responsible for both our depots and our people. Whether that’s making sure the right people are in the right places at the right time, or helping our trains leave the depot safely against our timetable.

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Northern App

Streamline your journey and get tickets straight to your phone. Making your journey contact-free.

Northern App

Streamline your journey and get tickets straight to your phone. Making your journey contact-free.