Northern will begin introducing 37 refurbished Class 350 trains from early 2028, replacing its existing Class 323 fleet across the North West.
The operator said the trains will provide more carriages and space, air conditioning, luggage racks and power points on many routes where they have not previously been available. The Class 323 units are described as reaching the end of their working lives.
Reliability improvements
The Class 350s will also feature Variable Rate Sander (VRS) technology. Northern said the system can reduce stopping distances by up to 50%, helping services operate more reliably in slippery autumn and winter conditions.
Tricia Williams, managing director at Northern, said: “These trains are much newer than the trains they are replacing, which are now reaching the end of their working lives. They will make a real difference to our customers, with air conditioning, more carriages, more space and a more pleasant environment throughout.”
Rail Minister Lord Peter Hendy said the refurbished trains would deliver “immediate improvements, with more space, air conditioning and greater reliability” for passengers in Manchester and the North West.
Rolling stock owner Porterbrook is investing £25m in the fleet. Its chief executive, Mary Grant, said the Class 350s were “consistently amongst the top performing trains on the network”.
Refurbishment and maintenance
Siemens Mobility UK&I will complete the interior and exterior upgrade at its train modification centre in Northampton. The trains will then be maintained at Northern’s Ardwick depot.
Aglaja Schneider, joint chief executive and managing director for rolling stock and customer services at Siemens Mobility UK&I, said the upgraded fleet would bring improved comfort, increased capacity and enhanced reliability to services across Manchester and the wider North West.
The Class 350 programme is separate from Northern’s planned purchase of up to 450 new trains, which are expected to enter service from around 2030 onwards. Northern said the refurbished trains would help improve reliability ahead of the new fleet’s arrival.