In December 2025, ORR opened an investigation into whether Northern contravened or was contravening Condition 5 (Accessible Travel Policy) of its licence obligations.
Investigation outcome
On 3 March 2026 we published the findings of our investigation.
We found that Northern contravened and is contravening (as of 3 March 2026), condition 5 of its Station Licence and GB Statement of National Regulatory Provisions: Passenger. In particular, it has failed, and is failing, to comply with commitments made in its published Accessible Travel Policy to provide disability awareness training for staff and to provide the management and oversight arrangements that would support and assure delivery of that training.
Our investigation report sets out the evidence for this decision.
The ORR Board determined there were grounds in this case not to make an order under section 55 of the Act as:
- Northern has agreed to take, and is taking, all such steps as appear appropriate to ORR for the purpose of securing or facilitating compliance with its ATP commitments relating to disability awareness training.
- ORR is satisfied that an enforcement order would not, at this stage, deliver a better result than would be achieved by delivery of Northern’s improvement plan.
The Board determined that a penalty is not appropriate in this case, taking into account the steps that Northern is already taking to secure future compliance, the dependency on public funds, and the package of reparations offered.
In reaching this decision, we require Northern to continue to implement and deliver its improvement plan and reparations package. We will closely monitor progress and will publish a report on Northern’s progress after the end of July 2026, when almost all actions are expected to be complete.