Northern Trains re-record names of 34 stations to reflect local pronunciation- including 4 in Greater Manchester

Northern Trains has completed the re-recording of 34 train station names in an effort to better reflect local pronunciation. The move follows a public appeal to assure the way locals pronounce the names of the stations was respected. 

From the 34 stations involved, four are located within Greater Manchester, with two in Manchester itself. The new recordings, which will now be rolled-out across Northern's fleet of 345 trains, were required following an upgrade to on-board software. Announcements also cover important topics like safety information and details of how to report suspicious behaviour and criminal acts.

Back in June, Northern employees Pete Corley and Laura Palmer appealed to customers to get in touch if they had mispronounced any of the more than 500 stations on Northern’s network. Debate ensued around loud Es, missing S’ and silent ‘ands’ within station names and, as promised, they went back to the studio.

Ardwick and Ashburys stations in Manchester are two of the 34 stations that have had their names re-recorded. Gathurst station in Wigan and Hall i' th' Wood train station in Bolton are the two stations from the wider Greater Manchester area. 

Tricia Williams, chief operating officer at Northern, said: “This has been such an interesting process and proof if ever it were needed of the passion our customers have for the North.

“Some of the stations on our network are pronounced very differently to how they appear in writing – it’s important to get these things right.

“I’d like to thank Pete, Laura and all of the on-board systems team for their persistence with this project – and to everyone that took the time to get involved and speak-up for their hometown.”