100-day review complete as Donovan reveals ambitions for “a new Northern”

Northern’s immediate focus is on recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic and the full restoration of services, says Managing Director Nick Donovan.

On June 8, as he discussed a 100-day review of the business since the Government’s Operator of Last Resort (OLR) took over from Arriva, Donovan stated: “Despite the pandemic, the review has been delivered. COVID-19 has not changed our commitment to deliver a ‘new Northern’ that will deliver real and tangible improvements for passengers.”

He claimed many improvements have already been made, including more staff being recruited, a full train cleaning programme, and improvements to some stations.

“But of course, there remains much more to do to provide the modern, reliable service we want to deliver,” he added.

“We have prepared a range of analysis and proposals and we will be working with the Department for Transport, Rail North Partnership and wider stakeholders to continue to assess these.”

In a document seen by RAIL, the company has restructured its management team, creating a Chief Operating Officer (COO) role. Deputy Managing Director Richard Allan will leave the operator in late August, remaining in an advisory role until then. Regional Directors, Head of Control and Engineering Director will be among the roles reporting to the COO.

• For the FULL story, read RAIL 907, published on June 17, and available digitally from June 13.