The first automatic ticket gates on Northern Rail’s network have ‘gone live’ at Blackpool North.
The six new gates will help reduce congestion at peak times, improving customers’ journeys through the station. The gates will also help reduce the number of people travelling without a ticket, estimated to cost the rail industry £210 million every year.
Steve Butcher, Area Director, Northern Rail said: “Although these gates have only been fully operational for a few days we’re already starting to see an increase in revenue, money that can be used to help improve the service and facilities we offer our customers. They are proven to reduce anti-social behaviour, helping to maintain a more secure and attractive environment for residents and visitors.”
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Notes to editors
You can contact Northern’s media relations team on 01904 568652 or 01904 568670.
Northern Rail is the biggest train operator in Britain, providing 2,500 local and regional train services every day across the north of England, serving a population of nearly 15m. We are now carrying 77 million passengers a year, 20% more than when we started our franchise in December 2004.
Northern Rail is owned by Serco-NedRailways, a joint venture established in 2002 that combines Serco’s world-class service credentials and NedRailways’ unrivalled rail industry expertise. Serco has run the highly successful Docklands Light Railway since 1997 while NedRailways’ parent, NS Dutch Railways, carries over 1.1 million passengers every day in the Netherlands.
In addition to Northern Rail, Serco-NedRailways has the 25-year concession for Merseyrail, which provides urban train services in Merseyside.
Recent Northern honours
Public Transport Operator of the Year - National Transport Awards 2007
Winners – Example of Excellence in Rural Action, Business in the Community Awards 2007
Overall Winners - Community Rail Awards 2007
