Arriva Trains Northern

Arriva Trains Northern are the company which took over most (if not all) of Northern Spirit's routes. I used to travel regularly on Northern Spirit trains, and had very little to complain about. There was the usual occassional over crowding, but nothing really that bad (if you'd asked me at the time I might have had a few harsh words for them, though). We are now in the age of Arriva, however. If a journey with Northern Spirit was ever bad, I now sit in the Seventh Circle of Hell with Arriva, a company which couldn't organise the proverbial inebriation in a hostelry. They advertised themselves as a far better company the Northern Spirit because ...  Read the complete review

My experience from Nothern Spirit has to do with its service to Manchester Airport.I should say that I'm totally satisfied and If companies want an example on how to run a service they must use Northern Spirit as an example. Polite staff,high punctuality (the delays I've experienced were infrequent)and reasonable prices.Ok car is always the best way to get there,but the timetable is quite good...However, I wish that they had another service between 3 and 5 in the morning for all those 8 o'clock flights... ...  Read the complete review

I'm not one of these people that's only happy when moaning, although I do confess to being less than shy about complaining. That said, Arriva Trains Northern are particularly worthy of my scathing; in fact, you might even say that they are asking for it. Fact: Arriva Trains Northern are wholly unable to run a decent rail service. We're not talking Connex here with filthy trains and broken toilets - it's worse. The trains are filthy and the toilets (which should only be risked in times of extreme need anyway) are pretty hopeless - but that's if the train turns up at all, which is frankly unlikely. Arriva Trains operate their ...  Read the complete review

If you use the TransPennine trains, or commuter trains in Yorkshire, you'll probably have noticed that little vinyl stickers saying "Arriva" have started appearing on your trains. Yes, the paint is barely dry on the shiny purple trains and it's time for a new name, and a new livery. So, given that Arriva have taken the same routes, trains and staff, can they actually make any difference? If you've read my other transport opinions (and if not, why not?) you'll know that I'm generally a supporter of rail and public transport in general. So, it may come as a surprise to find that this opinion is generally unfavourable. Let me explain: ...  Read the complete review

Northern Spirit hold the train franchise, believe it or not from the name, up north. They offer services as far south as Sheffield and travel to places like Wakefield, Leeds, Barnsley, Pontefract etc... I often use a Northern Spirit service or range of services approximately 4 times a month. It is normally on the 20 minute journey between Wakefield and Pontefract, however I have travelled between Sheffield and Pontefract on a Northern Spirit service, taking approximately an hour. I will be perfectly frank about the service and say that there is a distinct trade off. I have very rarely seen Northern Spirit trains late. They, in my experiance, are ...  Read the complete review