Published Thursday 27 February 2025 at 16:43
The Leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council, Councillor Phil Riley, has met with senior management from Northern to continue pressing for urgent improvements to train services across the borough.
Following on from previous meetings, Cllr Riley said there was a recognition that the current level of performance is unacceptable, particularly at weekends, when the number of cancelations produces a “completely unreliable level of service”.
Northern senior management shared their plans for the rest of 2025 when they hope to be able to show a substantial improvement in performance.
The key issues, they say are around resolving long-standing industrial relations disputes.
In addition, efforts are being stepped-up to increase vital training, including investing in state-of-the-art training facilities that simulate genuine driving experiences.
Cllr Riley met with Craig Harrop, North West Regional Director at Northern and Owain Roberts, Northern’s Regional Stakeholder Manager alongside Lancashire County Council’s Rail Development Manager, Mike Cliffe.
Craig Harrop said a shortage of conductors has contributed to high cancellation rates which Northern is addressing by recruiting and training new conductors.
He also highlighted that plans were underway to:
- Enhance services, starting with the implementation of a seven-day service.
- To speed up the training of new drivers, Northern has invested in three new train-driving simulators.
- The controversial practice of P coding (planned cancellations) has been discontinued since the introduction of the new Sunday timetable in January 2025
- Northern is developing a Target Operating Model aimed at creating a more reliable and leading train service
The meeting follows a government consultation launched yesterday seeking views on proposals to reform Britain’s railways. A railway fit for Britain’s future – GOV.UK
Cllr Phil Riley, who is also Chair of the Lancashire Combined County Authority’s Transport Board, said: “It was good to meet Northern senior management and to convey the ongoing concerns from local residents about the poor quality of service.
“Lots of plans were outlined and we will be meeting again, hopefully, when there have been measurable improvements.
“Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council will remain in close contact with Northern and will continue pressing for the reliable, seven-day train service that local residents and businesses expect and deserve.”