New Northern team set to make Manchester stations even safer

11 December 2020

Northern is making its network in Greater Manchester safer than ever with the introduction of a specialist team to patrol trains and stations.

The Travel Safe Officers (TSO) – based at Manchester Victoria and Manchester Oxford Road – will work with colleagues from British Transport Police to provide advice support and reassurance to customers and staff.

The team of 11 new recruits, who will be employed by Carlisle Support Services, will join 55 TSOs who already work, every day, across the Northern network.

Chris Jackson, Regional Director at Northern, said: “Our Travel Safe Officers do a great job across the Northern network to provide advice and reassurance for customers and to deter anti-social behaviour on our trains and stations.

“They were originally introduced in 2016 and have worked well – in tandem with colleagues from British Transport Police – in helping make our customers and staff safe and feel safe.

“We are delighted to be able to welcome more TSOs and introduce a new hub in the city to give Greater Manchester – and surrounding routes – and travel safe team of its own.

“Northern is absolutely committed to providing its staff and customers with the best possible journey experience and the additional officers will, I am sure, help to achieve this.”

Inspector Adam Swallow, of British Transport Police, said: “I am delighted that the new Travel Safe team for Northern will be locally based and serving our railway community at these busy station hubs.

“The additional visibility, customer service and reassurance will complement the policing teams working around the city centre making for a safe, secure and efficient service. We look forward to closely working with the Travel Safe team.”

A spokesperson for Carlisle Support Services added: “Carlisle is delighted to be a part of this new and exciting travel safe initiative with Northern.

“We are proud to play a part in the collaborative approach involving Northern and British Transport Police. We are excited to see our existing team extended and their great work focused to make this vibrant transport hub even safer and more secure.”