Northern unveils first digital train

Northern has given customers a glimpse into the future with the launch of its first fully refurbished train, now out on the network.

The delivery of 243 refurbished trains is part of a multi-million pound investment programme to enhance customer journeys with new trains, more services, more seats, better stations and faster journeys.

The Class 158 today made its debut for customers travelling between Leeds and Lincoln.

The upgraded train gives Northern customers a brighter and more comfortable journey with new seating and more leg room – and provides them with digital improvements including USB charging sockets at every seat and free Wi-Fi throughout. In the near future, these trains will also feature customer information screens and digital seat reservations.

Last week, the first of 98 brand new trains began test runs on Northern routes and is scheduled for passenger service by the end of the year.

More the 400 Northern stations will see improvements such as new waiting rooms, improved lighting and CCTV, and new seating by 2020, with work already complete at more than 100 stations.

Northern has also made it easier than ever for customers to buy tickets for their journeys with improved mobile applications and the roll out of more than 600 new ticket machines at stations across the north of England.

Ben Ackroyd, Engineering Director at Northern, said: “We have promised our customers fully refurbished trains with modern facilities, I am really proud to see this first unit out on the network.

“We are committed to delivering further improvements for our customers in the north of England and this train – which will operate across the region – is tangible proof that our improvements are on track.”

Northern customer Edith from Sheffield said: “I thought I was walking into first class it is so nice and clean. A great improvement which I'm sure will be appreciated by all passengers.”

The train was refurbished at Arriva Train Care in Crewe and involved hundreds of hours of work from specialists in rail, engineering, electrics, lighting and audio-visual.

Now the blueprint has been set, work will continue on refurbishing the rest of the Northern fleet to ensure customers from as far afield as Nottingham to Newcastle and Scarborough to Southport can travel each day on a more modern network.

Ben added: “I am grateful to our partners across the industry who have worked hard to deliver this first-in-class train for our customers and I look forward to seeing more and more refurbished carriages out and about on the network during the coming weeks and months.”