Northern Electrics is a brand of electric commuter rail services introduced in 2015, operated by Northern Trains. The services operate on the Liverpool to Manchester and Liverpool to Wigan lines. As a result of complete electrification of these lines by state track operator Network Rail, they became capable of taking more trains at a higher speed, with raised punctuality, reliability and with considerably less pollution than diesel. The first complete day of Northern Electrics services was 22 May 2015. Class 323s and Class 331s also operate on these services, but it is largely unknown if they are a part of Northern Electrics.
History
State rail infrastructure owner Network Rail began electrification of the lines between Manchester and Liverpool in 2013 as part of its Northern Hub upgrade programme. The work was completed in February 2015. The first electric services between Liverpool and Manchester commenced on 5 March 2015—the first service operated by Northern Electrics being the Liverpool Lime Street to Manchester Airport route. As part of Northern Rail's plans for operation of the newly electrified Liverpool to Manchester lines, an initial 20 Class 319/3 units were transferred from Thameslink following a repaint and internal refresh. 12 units launched the services early in 2015, with the remaining 8 units due to enter traffic for Northern Electrics in September the same year. The Class 319s have largely replaced Class 142Pacer, Class 150 Sprinter and Class 156Super Sprinterdiesel multiple units that were once the mainstay of services between Liverpool and Manchester. Several class 323 units started working on most Northern Electrics services from May 2018 after the Liverpool to Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Piccadilly to Manchester Airport services as well as an extension to Crewe station from Manchester Airport station combined to make a new Liverpool Lime street to Crewe service. In July 2019, Class 331s were also introduced on Northern, operating most of the lines on Northern Electrics. In August 2019, it was confirmed that all 319s would leave Northern to be replaced by 17 Class 323 units operated by West Midlands Trains. This is expected to occur once new rolling stock is in operation with West Midlands Trains in 2021.
Branding
The Northern Electrics livery is different to the standard Northern Rail livery - featuring "Northern Electrics" logos and a different design which has a greater emphasis on purple.
When Northern Electrics was introduced, there were limited services to/from Blackpool North which were still DMUs and this route was not electrified at the time. On weekends, services between Liverpool and Warrington Bank Quay were still operated by Class 150s, Class 142s and Class 156 units as fewer class 319s operated on weekends. The 18:00 service from Liverpool Lime Street to Preston, the 06:44 service from Wigan North Western to Liverpool Lime Street, the 07:38 service from Manchester Victoria to Liverpool Lime Street and the 08:38 service from Manchester Victoria to Liverpool Lime Street were run by DMUs on Saturdays. All diesel traction was gradually phased out after all class 319 units were delivered. Several class 323 units also started working on most Northern Electrics services from May 2018 after the Liverpool to Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Piccadilly services combined to make a new service. Class 331s also worked aside from the class 319s and class 323s from July 2019. Further services between Liverpool/Manchester and Preston/Blackpool were added when Network Rail completed electrification of the Preston to Blackpool lines in 2018.
