Transport for the North is launching ‘Real Rail Stories’, a mini-series highlighting why passengers across the North choose the train and the benefits they experience as a result.
Since its creation, the railway has been an integral part of the North’s story. From George Stephenson opening the Stockton and Darlington Railroad in 1825 and “The Rocket” setting speed records in Liverpool in 1829, it is often said that the North is the birthplace of rail.
Whilst much has changed in 200 years, one thing has remained constant – the value our railways bring to people’s lives.
Whether it’s day-trippers visiting the North’s cultural and leisure attractions, commuters traveling to and from the office, business travellers moving across the country, or students getting to school or college. The trains are more than a means to get to A to B, they are an integral part of our everyday lives.
In this new mini-series – “Real Rail Stories” – Transport for the North shares the everyday experiences of the people that power the North’s railway – its passengers. From York to Oxenholme; Liverpool to Newcastle, and Preston to Doncaster, we’ve been speaking to passengers across the region to understand how the train benefits their lives.
Transport for the North’s Strategic Rail programme explores existing rail-related issues across the North, in order to shape a better future for the railway and the North’s 15.2 million people that may come to use it.
Following the challenges of the pandemic, rail recovery – and its role in supporting wider economic recovery and growth – is a prominent issue, and the rail industry has been working together collaboratively to encourage passengers to make their return or choose to turn to the train for their transport.
As the UK transitions to life without Covid restrictions, evidence suggests that the North is leading the rail recovery. Recent figures from Network Rail show that, while between August 2021 and January 2022, major London stations had only recovered to an average footfall of 58% of pre-Covid levels – in the North, over the same period, the region’s stations had recovered to 81% of pre-Covid levels.
By exploring the Real Rail Stories of passengers across the North, we can better understand the importance of the railway to those that use it and the value it adds to people’s lives. In turn, this indicates the need for investment to enhance and future-proof existing benefits, while enabling Transport for the North to consider how improved pan-Northern passenger services can be delivered in the future.
If you have a story to share about how using the North’s railway benefits your life, we want to hear from you. You can use Twitter to share your #RealRailStories or get in touch via email at [email protected].