Northern is preparing 37 refurbished Class 350 trains for services across Manchester and the wider North West, with the first expected to enter service from early 2028.
The £25 million upgrade programme will see the trains replace Northern’s ageing Class 323 fleet. Passengers can expect air conditioning, more carriages, luggage racks and, on many routes, at-seat power for the first time.
More space and better performance
The trains will also be fitted with Variable Rate Sander technology, which can reduce stopping distances by up to 50%. That should help services run more reliably during slippery autumn and winter conditions.
Siemens Mobility UK&I will carry out the interior and exterior work at its train modification centre in Northampton. The fleet will then be maintained at Northern’s Ardwick depot in Manchester.
The Class 350s are intended to improve capacity and reliability ahead of Northern’s wider fleet renewal programme, which is expected to bring up to 450 new trains into service from around 2030.
Why it matters for Britain
The investment means more comfortable and dependable journeys for passengers across the North West, while the modification and maintenance work supports railway activity in Northampton and Manchester. Better capacity and reliability could also make rail a more practical option for local travel.
