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Over the past 10 years of using trains to get to/ from work and leisure trips. I have used Northern and their predecessors. I have always kept pressure on my local MP in regards of bigger (better) trains and extra services. When other people have moaned, I have told them to pressurise their MPs, as they are the only ones (collectively) that can improve services/ quality of stock etc.
I'd say Northern have got more of a grip on things than previous operators. Cleanliness of trains has improved greatly. Reliability and punctuality of the services have greatly improved.
There are still many things that could be done better, but these can't be done because of the government. The DfT let the Northern Rail Franchise on a no growth, so there was no chance to improve service levels/ new stock.
Rumor is Northern did want to buy new trains at the start of the franchise, but the government said no.
Since the franchise began Northern has seen about a 34% growth in passenger figures (considering the franchise forecast was let with no growth exppected), which is the biggest growth of any franchise TOC's.
Northern didn't rest on their laurals. They and the government undertook a review of services (government with a view to reduce services/ number of trains). But the report came out saying that the franchise was growing quickly with passenger numbers up and that the franchise was crying out for extra stock.
Northern Rail did manage to secure a deal for extra trains. I think this was about 38 extra (2- car) Class 158 DMU's. With the introduction of these extra 158s, Northern were planning to place a good number Class 142s into store/ off lease. But as the introduction of the 158s started it sooner learned that they would not be geting the 38 158s, in that 8x 158s were to be going to ScotRail, and 2 or 4 x 158s were to go to East Midlands Trains. The upshot of the EMT move was that Northern would get some Class 158 centre cars from EMT, to fit into some of Northern's 158s. A small number of 142s did go into store but nowhere near the numbers planned. So the 142s had to remain in service. ScotRail took our expected 158s as they said they were in no way going to take on Class 142s which were off lease (as 142s were the only stock available for redeployment).
Those (I think 7) 142s that did go into store were transfered to First Great Western on loan. Which have started to be returned to Northern with the remainder coming back when FGW gets other cascaded units from London Overground/ London Midland.
Also Northern have been able to secure 3x 5-car Class 180 DMUs on loan from National Express East Coast (before NatEx handed the franchise back) to increase capacity.
When the Oldham Loop closed, Northern were going to lose the 5x class 142s (going off lease). But since demand increased on nearby lines, Northern were able to retain these 5 units for strengthening work.
Since Northern started the franchise, they seem to have utilised their units better than previous operators, increasing capacity were required.
The introduction of more Class 158s introduced an internal cascade of units. 158s took over 156 diagrams, which were deployed onto other services that were operated by 150 or 142. The 150s or 142s displaced cascaded down to
diagrams operated by Class 153s or 142s, which were displaced to help increase capacity on other services (added onto trains). So the 158s offered increased capacity down the internal cascade, as 156s gave an increase in capacity to 142 diagrams, the 142s able to increase capacity of 153 diagrams. So a quick win all round.
The toilet issue is not really down to Northern, but is attributed to people putting stuff that isn't supposed to be put down toilets like paper towels, newspapers, bottles, food wrappers etc. When there has been this problem, Northern have tried to clear the blockage at the earliest oppertunity in the diagram. Sometimes even swapping units so to deal with the problem.
So if you keep putting pressure onto your local MPs there might be more chance of getting better/ newer trains/ increasing service levels.
Bottom line is it is down to the government, who call the shots with rail franchises.
So things aren't as bad as what some people make it out to be.
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