Train operator Northern has completed a major milestone in its five-year station improvement programme, with over 700 new customer information screens and 530 public announcement speakers now installed at 300 stations across the North of England.
The upgrades are part of a multi-million-pound investment to improve accessibility, clarity, and confidence for passengers using Northern’s services.
The new screens feature white LEDs, high-contrast displays, and larger formats, making them easier to read, especially for customers with visual impairments. They provide real-time updates on departure times, service changes, and safety messages.
Stations benefiting from the upgrades include Bentham, Bingley, Hale, Hazel Grove, Mossley Hill, Maryport, Shildon, and Sunderland.
The improvements are part of Northern’s wider push to make rail travel more inclusive. Recent initiatives include:
- Passenger Assistance Points at dozens of stations
- Expansion of the mobility scooter scheme to eight more locations
- Trials of British Sign Language announcements and priority seating
- A new QR code assistance system on the Preston–Colne line, allowing passengers to request help up to 10 minutes before departure at unstaffed stations
Northern is also working to improve service reliability, with a target to ensure no more than 2% of services are cancelled and 90% arrive within three minutes of schedule by the end of 2027.
Commercial and Customer Director for Northern, Alex Hornby, said:
“Customers deserve the best quality of information when making their journey with us, and we are investing millions of pounds to ensure we deliver this.
“Up-to-date information about our services and clear announcements at our stations are vital.
"We will continue to listen to customer feedback and make such improvements, so they can enjoy simpler, straight-forward journeys when they’re travelling across our network.”
As the UK’s second-largest train operator, Northern runs 2,650 services a day to over 500 stations, making these upgrades a significant step in enhancing the passenger experience across the region.
Image credit: iStock
