Northern Rail Faces Criticism for Continued Use of Fax Machines

The outdated technology is linked to service disruptions and requires union agreement for modernization.

Northern Rail, the UK's second-largest train operator, still uses fax machines for internal communication, including crew rostering.
Mayor Andy Burnham and other regional leaders have criticized the reliance on 1980s technology, calling for urgent modernization.
Northern Rail's management claims that union agreements are necessary to transition to modern communication systems.
The operator has been issued a breach notice by the Department for Transport due to high cancellation rates, exacerbated by staffing issues.
Plans to replace fax machines are underway, but progress is slow, with ongoing negotiations needed to address labor agreements.