Northern says it still uses fax machines to send messages to train workers

Northern rail workers said they were still using fax machines to pass on important messages to train staff.

The rail company was welcomed at an extraordinary meeting of the northern rail committee, chaired by the mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, on Wednesday morning where Northern was asked to account for its poor performance. , including repeated “don’t go” messages. offered to passengers on Sundays.

Burnham asked one of the two Northern officers present: “I heard that you are still using fax machines. Can that be true?”

The official replied: “Very true,” prompting a disbelieving Burnham to ask: “How on earth did this happen in 2024?”

When asked by Burnham why Northern could not remove the fax machines “tomorrow,” the official replied: “The equipment we use to send messages and information to our employees depends on -fax, wonderfully.”

He added: “It is our challenge to eliminate them. It is in our plans to eliminate them.”

A second official who was present at the meeting suggested that it would require union agreement to switch to digital technology. “We cannot end them tomorrow without an agreement with our trade unions,” he said. “So we have to look at these issues in their depth and complexity.”

In response, Burnham said: “Personally, I don’t think most people watching this would think of replacing the fax machine as a serious and complex issue, and even if it would require agreement with the unions , people would say … well, why wasn’t that what happened years ago?”

Other issues raised by Burnham and the mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin, included the high number of cancellations, and concerns about poor train services affecting the local economy in the run-up to Christmas and impact on footfall at Christmas markets in Manchester and Halifax’s Piece Hall.

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after the news release

Burnham said: “One hundred and fifty-five trains have been canceled this morning. That is, thousands of people are late for work, changing their day. And that’s a lot of hassle, a lot of money. What really worries me is that you don’t have a plan for this cancellation.”

Northern officials were asked about court fines for people who mistakenly bought the wrong ticket, the high level of sickness among staff, and the failure to enter agreements to accept tickets on other lines of Northern services. are deleted.

“We have completely changed our position on the penalty charges,” a second North official said. “We have suspended prosecutions on a number of penalty charges where we understand that tickets are too complex and difficult for consumers.”

The former official said Northern has a long-term plan, which is “over the months and years”, and will seek to address various issues.

He said: “If at 5.30 this morning I’m looking at the cancellation of a lot of things, I’m like, how do we get that right, while we’re organizing the fax machines, we’re organizing the schedule structure, we’re reorganizing the business is consistent and local news?

“Those are all on the list. All of these are being worked on… but they are not problems that can be solved tomorrow. ”