Galas and Festivals

The Great R&B Festival Blues Train One of Northern's gala festivals Burscough Bridge Station - Fair Trade day Flower Festival at a Northern Station A band playing on a Northern Platform

We want to celebrate the role of railways in the community. We are involved in a growing number of special events which offer a fantastic range of entertainment for all the family.

On Sunday September 14th 2008 we held a major community open day at our train maintenance depot at Heaton, Newcastle.

We also had lots of smaller events at stations around our network throughout the summer including galas at Edge Hill, Todmorden, Mytholmroyd and Bridlington.

Our Famous Music Trains

Two musicians on a Northern Music Train Northern Rail passengers enjoying a Music Train A large band playing on a Northern Rail Train Two members of a brass band on one of the Morecambe Station platforms Glossopdale Community College Saxophone Quartet and Wind Trio

We have several routes where we work with community rail partnerships to organise music trains. Our Penistone Line is probably the most famous, being described by The Guardian newspaper as 'Britain's Number 1 Fun Railway'. Our community partners organise events throughout the year, including Christmas and Easter holidays and during the summer season. For more details go to www.acorp.uk.com.

See the Community Links page for what's happening on your local line.

Our Santa Trains

Santa on a Northern Train Santa, one of his elves and a member of Northern Staff

Every year, around the festive period Santa visits some of our trains for lots of family fun.

See the Community Links page for what's happening on your local line.