Reactionary infrastructural developments are sweeping the Northern rail network after historic heatwaves took their toll on parched passengers. To combat future instances of dehydrated disarray, Northern are introducing water dispensers across 32 of the operators’ busiest stations.
These water dispensers will allow 45 per cent of the rail operators station footfall to take advantage of the new facilities, whilst severely cutting down on plastic wastage across the northern rail sector. After successful trials at Bolton and Catsleford stations, the implementation of the dispensers was approved with a further 19 planned for rollout early next year.
The dispensers will offer hands-free services through the use of a sensor, as well as a digital counter installed within the device to enable customers to see how many times reusable bottles have been refilled. These dispensers will offer free, chilled water to anyone travelling throughout the stations, improving passenger experiences as they traverse the network.
Mark Powles, customer, and commercial director, said:
“We want to provide our customers with unlimited free water refills and help them to stay hydrated, cut down on plastic pollution and save money.
“Our customers are at the heart of everything we do, and this is a benefit for them and the environment.
Whilst the roll out of water dispensers across the northern network acts to improve the passenger experience, they can enhance the ambitions to cut carbon emissions across the rail sector. Maintaining efficiency with resources such as water, energy and fuel is a key contributing factor towards Northern’s continued efforts to achieve net-zero.
Water dispenser locations:
- Alnmouth
- Bingley
- Blackburn
- Bolton
- Blackpool North
- Bradford Forster Square
- Bradford Interchange
- Castleford
- Cheadle Hulme
- Glossop
- Guiseley
- Halifax
- Harrogate
- Hazel Grove
- Heaton Chapel
- Hebden Bridge
- Hexham
- Horsforth
- Ilkley
- Keighley
- Manchester Oxford Road
- Manchester Victoria
- Meadowhall
- Mexborough
- New Pudsey
- Newton Le Willows
- Rochdale
- Salford Central
- Salford Crescent
- Shipley
- Skipton
- Warrington Central
- Wigan Wallgate
- Wilmslow
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