Rt Hon Sir Julian Smith KCB CBE MP has welcomed news that Northern Trains has been awarded the Gold Employer Recognition Scheme Award by the Ministry of Defence. This award recognises Northern’s outstanding commitment to supporting members of the Armed Forces community, including veterans and reservists.
The award comes alongside a series of positive developments for rail users across the North. Northern has reported record passenger numbers since COVID, launched campaigns to encourage leisure travel, and introduced pay-as-you-go ticketing trials. The company is also preparing for the biggest East Coast Main Line timetable change in over a decade, promising faster journeys and thousands of extra seats.
Northern’s recent initiatives include promoting arts and food festivals, supporting car-free travel in Cumbria, and publishing its Breaking Down Barriers to Opportunity report in Parliament, highlighting its work to tackle inequality and create opportunities.
Commenting, Julian said, “It is fantastic news that Northern has achieved the Gold Employer Recognition Scheme Award. This is a significant recognition of their commitment to our Armed Forces community. Alongside this, Northern’s work to improve services, simplify ticketing, and invest in local economies shows how vital the railway is to connecting people and places across our area."
You can read Northern's letter to Julian here.
