Northern has announced the introduction of a set of 37 refurbished Class 350 trains onto its network starting in early 2028.
The trains, which are set to undergo a 25 million GBP refurbishment programme before entering service, will replace the operator’s existing Class 323 fleet on services travelling across both Manchester and the wider North West.
Equipped with air conditioning, additional carriages and luggage racks, at-seat power points and ‘Variable Rate Sander (VRS)’ technology; the trains’ introduction comes in addition to Northern’s investment in a fleet of new trains for the North, which will see up to 450 new trains enter service from 2030 onwards.
Tricia Williams, Managing Director at Northern said:The introduction of these trains is fantastic news for our customers across the North West.
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. They'll also be more reliable, and built entirely around what our customers have been asking us for.
Aglaja Schneider, Joint CEO and Managing Director, Rolling Stock and Customer Services at Siemens Mobility UK&I, said:It is great to see the refurbished 350/2 fleet moving over to Northern, which will deliver real benefits for passengers travelling across Manchester and the wider North-West. Once the interior and exterior upgrade is completed at our train modification centre in Northampton, we will be maintaining these trains out of our Ardwick depot, ensuring the trains are ready for passenger journeys across the North.
By introducing upgraded rolling stock with improved comfort, increased capacity and enhanced reliability, alongside innovative technologies that help improve operational performance, we are helping to create a better travel experience for customers today while supporting the future growth of Britain's railway.
This investment demonstrates the value of collaboration across the rail industry and our shared commitment to building a modern, passenger-focused railway that serves communities, supports economic growth and encourages more people to choose rail.
