Northern Rail has ‘no plans’ to replace fax machines

Andy Burnham has slammed Northern Rail after an FOI revealed the firm has ‘no plans’ to replace fax machines with more modern tech.

The rail operator stunned commuters in October 2024 when it emerged the firm still uses faxes to communicate between staff.

The Greater Manchester mayor described the situation as ‘embarrassing’ and said it was ‘no wonder’ passengers received late notification of the operator’s frequent cancellations and delays. 

At the time, Northern officials claimed it was ‘in their plans to get rid of the fax machines’. But six months on, no formal meetings have taken place about replacing fax machines with ‘new technology’, an FOI has revealed. 

No conversations with trade unions have resulted in an agreement about replacing technology, and future negotiations ‘may involve further conversations regarding new technology, but there are no plans in place currently’, the train operator confirmed. 

Northern Officials confirmed: “No formal meetings have taken place internally or externally, specifically regarding the replacement of fax machines.”

A spokesperson added: “Replacing fax machines isn’t a priority as they do not impact train service performance.

“We are currently focusing our efforts on technology that will make a difference, like the new state-of-the-art simulators that will be used to train drivers and conductors.”

Northern officials previously stated they used the outmoded machines to communicate ‘vital messages’ to train crews. Yet fax technology will become defunct in January 2027.

BT is urging businesses to switch to email before the end of 2025 to enable a smooth transition.

Responding to the news, the Mayor of Greater Manchester said: “I’ve been very clear that rail passengers in the north need – and deserve – better than an unreliable, fax-driven railway. 

“Modernising working practices, including the use of technology, forms part of the current talks underway between the rail unions and DfT and we are hopeful that agreements can be reached that allow Northern to focus on delivering the kind of reliable railway our passengers, businesses and those working on our trains desperately need.”

Driver’s union ASLEF said it had made agreements to move beyond fax technology with all other rail operators. A spokesperson insisted that Northern, which operates across more than 500 stations, decided not to continue with discussions about advancing technology in 2021.

But they later added: “It’s a matter for the company.”

And Transport union RMT said they must ensure any technological advancements “protect jobs, terms and conditions of our members”.

In May this year, around half of Northern services were delayed and more than 2,300 trains were cancelled. 

More than 20pc of services in North Manchester ran with less than the planned capacity. 

Earlier this year, Mr Burnham unveiled plans to ‘revolutionise’ Greater Manchester’s railways by bringing eight commuter trains – mostly run by Northern – under ‘local control’. The mayor hopes that trains stopping at 96 stations across the city-region will be part of the Bee Network’s ‘integrated’ payment system by 2030.