Northern has begun a month-long trial of redesigned priority seating on 12 diesel multiple-units, aiming to make reserved spaces easier to recognise for disabled, pregnant and older passengers. Six Class 156 sets operating in the North West and six Class 170s running in Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire have been fitted with blue seat covers embroidered with bright yellow icons that reflect internationally recognised disability and pregnancy symbols.
Visual upgrade led by user feedback
Northern’s Accessibility User Group (NAUG) guided the design process, short-listing four options and selecting the final layout after more than 3 000 responses from the operator’s customer panel. NAUG chair Mark Cutter welcomed the change, noting that a conspicuous symbol should “encourage [the seats’] use by those who need them” while reminding travellers that “not all disabilities are visible.”
On-train messaging and performance review
During the trial, automated announcements will remind customers to keep the seats free if they do not require them and to consider less visible impairments. Northern’s commercial and customer director, Alex Hornby, said the company would “monitor the feedback” to assess whether the new fabric strikes the right balance between clarity and courtesy.
Part of a wider accessibility programme
The initiative complements Northern’s ongoing work with the Office of Rail & Road to improve the travel experience for passengers with additional access needs. As the UK’s second-largest train operator—with around 2 500 services each day serving more than 500 stations across the North of England—any network-wide adoption would represent a significant step towards consistent accessibility standards.
