First conductors for new Northumberland Line begin training as more set to be recruited

03 November 2023

The first three conductors recruited to work on the new Northumberland Line have started their training with Northern – as the closing date for 12 further vacancies approaches.

David Nattress, Kevin Watson & Cameron Young are the first of 15 conductors being recruited for the route from the local area.

The role comes with a salary of £29,098 once fully qualified and benefits including free train travel. Initial training takes twelve weeks and the apprenticeship is complete in twelve months.

The closing date for applications is this Sunday (12 November). Click here for more information about the role or visit: www.northernrailway.co.uk/careers.

The Northumberland Line route has only been used by freight carriages since the 1960s and is now set to reopen to passengers next year.

Work is underway to upgrade 18 miles of track to provide local communities with enhanced connectivity as well as building stations at Northumberland Park, Seaton Delaval, Newsham, Blyth Bebside, Bedlington and Ashington.

Kerry Peters, regional director at Northern, said: "This is an amazing opportunity for those living in the area.

“Some of the people working on-board our trains today started their career in very different arenas, from the prison service and cabin crew to social care and financial services.

“No-one should think the railway ‘isn’t for them’ – it’s an industry with much to offer.”

A facility for Northern staff is set to be built in Ashington. The planning application for the building, which will have mess room facilities, an office and a signing-in point for staff has been given the go-ahead by Northumberland County Council.

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.