Northern launches first new train for Bradford, Skipton and Ilkley

New trains will operate from Monday 9  September with further introductions to come before the end of the year.  By the end of 2019 new trains will also connect Bradford with Blackpool and York and will serve customers on the Calder Valley with services to and from Leeds, Manchester and beyond to Chester.

Bradford is one of the first places in the North to benefit from Northern’s new trains and the state-of-the-art fleet will connect the city with other key cities and towns across the region.

Cllr Kim Groves, Chair of Transport Committee from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority said: “I am delighted that Northern’s new trains will soon be operating to and from Bradford and across the north of England.

“They have been long awaited and no doubt there have been challenges but they are fantastic vehicles that will make a difference to everyone’s travelling experience.

 “Northern’s new trains will enable better access to employment, to business and to education and will no doubt support West Yorkshire’s economic growth. They are a vital step to a better connected Bradford and north of England.”

“I am looking forward to future announcements across West Yorkshire and I will continue to work closely with Northern to deliver for customers and address infrastructure constraints.”

Northern's new trains feature free Wi-Fi, air-conditioning, at-seat power and customer information/media screens with real-time information. They are also more spacious for customers and are fully accessible with spaces for wheel chairs and cycles.

Northern has ordered 101 new trains as part of a £500m investment in rail in the North. There are already 15 trains operating on a number of routes and more will follow throughout 2019 and into 2020.

Steve Hopkinson, Northern’s Regional Director said: “The Northern network is busier than it has been for a generation – more than 100 million customer journeys will be made on Northern services in 2019 – and the introduction of new trains is at the heart of our transformation for customers.

“We are delighted therefore that customers travelling to and from Bradford will now be served by brand new trains.

“These fantastic trains are a true step-change in travelling experience and we are extremely proud to be delivering a £500m investment.

“From early September we will have 20 brand new trains carrying customers, with more to come throughout 2019 and into 2020.”

Northern’s new trains are part of the largest modernisation programme in a generation that is transforming travel in the north of England. It is currently fully refurbishing its existing fleet of 243 trains, improving its stations and has introduced more than 2,000 extra services every week since 2016.