Civils and stations

06.06.17

Northern calls on passengers to share opinions on station upgrades

Northern has this week called on passengers to voice their opinions on its station modernisation programme and how it can improve facilities in the future.

The operator has launched a survey to garner the views of passengers on a number of facilities that have been improved including Adlington (Lancs), Moston, Ravensthorpe and Cramlington to find out how it can make its stations better for passengers.

A number of new features have been added to the stations, including waiting shelter seating, customer information screens and customer technology panels – and Northern says it wants to know what passengers think of the changes.

The improvements being made at the stations are not the final versions, so the TOC says that feedback from passengers who regularly use the new facilities is essential to make sure the right changes are rolled out to the rest of the network as part of its ‘Better Stations’ programme of works.

“We have a number of options in terms of the improvements we can make to our stations and we want to ensure we give our customers a voice and take their insight into account when we make final decisions,” a Northern spokesperson stated.

They added that when complete, the Better Stations programme will see a combination of new facilities such as refurbished shelters and waiting rooms, refurbished toilets, new seating, new ticket vending machines, improved security, information, and lighting and accessibility improvements installed at many stations managed by Northern.

“Better Stations is a key part of our wider commitment to modernising the Northern network,” the spokesperson continued. “We have already started to roll out our refurbished trains and the remainder of the fleet will go through this process during the next 18 months.

“We are also committed to bringing 98 new, purpose built, trains to our network by 2020, as well as removing all Pacers within the same timescale.”

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Comments

Dennis   06/06/2017 at 12:11

Thirsk station, North Yorkshire, requires a much bigger car park. The exisiting one is to small and drivers are having to find alternative spaces elsewhere, including in a nearby housing development.

Roger, Glossop & Sheffield   06/06/2017 at 14:50

Classic on the up platform at Broadbotttom. A bench & a shelter, on the bench isn't in the shelter, so if it rains (as it's inclined to in Longdendale) you can either stand & stay dry or sit & get wet!

Andrew Gwilt   07/06/2017 at 00:25

This is also part of the Northern Powerhouse, isn't it? Or is Northern to improve stations for newer longer trains.

Andrew JG   07/06/2017 at 02:40

As the Class 323's will be replaced by the Class 331's with this picture of the Class 323 train. Would London Midland have the rest of the Class 323's or will Northern keep the Class 323's but to operate on other routes. Or could the Class 323's end up getting scrapped.

David   07/06/2017 at 06:42

Andrew, the "Northern Powerhouse" is not a real scheme. It was literally just a Tory mouthpiece from the 2015 election.

Andrew Gwilt   07/06/2017 at 12:32

Fair point David.

King's Lynn   07/06/2017 at 13:29

Well, to say improvements are needed would be an understatement... when I was last up that direction, every station I went to seemed to be creaking at the seams and also, in massive need of an update (or a clean and a lick of paint!). One one hand, it's great to see so many people using the trains but the lack of investment over the last fifteen years is really showing. Let's hope it's not a case of too little, too late. (Also - as an aside and not really connected with the above but part of the same trip I made - can someone explain the reason that selective door opening (door being singular in this case!) is used on the local stations on the way into Nottingham from Rotherham? It seems to cause chaos in the morning peak, with a queue about 25/30 long on a platform which can quite easily accommodate at least three carriages? Is there a method to this apparent madness?)

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