Publicly owned operator of local and regional trains across the North of England, including the Settle–Carlisle, Cumbrian Coast and Esk Valley lines.
Northern is the largest train operator in England by number of stations served, running local and regional services across Yorkshire, Lancashire, Cumbria, the North East, Merseyside and Greater Manchester. It has been in public ownership since 1 March 2020, when the Department for Transport's operator of last resort (now DfT Operator Ltd) took over from Arriva. It will fold into Great British Railways when that body starts operating, currently planned for 2027.
For scenic travel it is the key operator: the Settle–Carlisle, Cumbrian Coast, Furness, Lakes, Bentham, Calder Valley, Hope Valley, Esk Valley and Tyne Valley lines are all Northern routes. Most are worked by Class 150, 156 and 158 diesel units, with newer Class 195 units on longer inter-urban runs.
Northern sells a wide range of Day Ranger and Rover tickets, though most must be bought at a staffed station or from the conductor rather than online. Prices on its website were last stated correct as of 3 March 2025.
Scenic lineEngland's most celebrated main line, climbing from the Yorkshire Dales over Ribblehead Viaduct and Ais Gill summit into the Eden Valley.
Scenic lineA little-known coastal route round the western edge of the Lakes, running on the beach at St Bees and Seascale with fells one side and sea the other.
Scenic lineThe short branch from the West Coast Main Line at Oxenholme through Kendal and Staveley to Windermere, the rail gateway to the Lake District.
Scenic lineFrom Teesside up the winding Esk valley through the North York Moors to the harbour town of Whitby, crossing the river a dozen times on the way.
Scenic lineThrough the Peak District from Sheffield to Manchester via Totley and Cowburn tunnels, Hathersage, Castleton's Hope Valley and Edale under Kinder Scout.
Scenic lineCoast to coast along Hadrian's Wall country, following the Tyne through Hexham and Haltwhistle to Carlisle on one of the world's oldest railways.
Scenic lineAcross the Pennines from the Dales to Morecambe Bay by way of Giggleswick, Clapham and the Three Peaks, on the old Little North Western.
Scenic lineThrough the mill towns of the Calder valley, Hebden Bridge, Todmorden and the Summit Tunnel, on the first railway across the Pennines.
Scenic lineAround the edge of Morecambe Bay on long low viaducts across the Kent and Leven estuaries, past Grange-over-Sands and Ulverston to Barrow.
