PASSENGER satisfaction on Northern trains has remained stable, despite a series of strikes over its planned introduction of driver-only trains.

Watchdog Transport Focus has released the results of its latest National Rail Passenger Survey, which show that 83 per cent of passengers rated journey on Northern trains as satisfactory or good, up by two per cent from last year.

It places Northern joint 17th of 26 rail operators surveyed.

But the operator fared poorly when customers were asked to rate its provision of power plugs and WiFi, with most people saying they were dissatisfied in these areas.

Richard Allan, Northern’s customer director, said: “It is encouraging that many of our scores are improving and we have firm plans in areas where customers want improvement, such as better stations and free WiFi on trains.

“The first of our refurbished trains are in service, the first new trains are being built, and new facilities are being built at many smaller stations. There is much more to come over the next three years as we modernise local rail services for the North.”

Rail union RMT has been holding a series of strikes over plans to introduce trains with no guards, most recently staging a three-day walkout earlier this month.

These have been “very inconvenient” for many passengers, according to the Aire Valley Rail Users’ Group, which represents passengers on the Airedale line.

Chairman Tim Calow said Northern’s latest customer satisfaction scores were “not at all bad”, especially considering this disruption.

He said in his view, overcrowding was Northern’s biggest problem and the group remained concerned at the challenges the operator will face in the next two years as it brings in its longer, driver-only trains and extends the platforms at local stations to accommodate them.

He said: “I haven’t been able to see any plans for how this will happen over the next couple of years. I think we are concerned.”

Meanwhile, train operator Grand Central, which runs services between Bradford and London, was celebrating being named Britain’s best value long distance train operator for the fifth year in a row.

It came joint third in the national list of operators, in terms of overall customer satisfaction, with 94 per cent of passengers rating their journeys as good.

Richard McClean, managing director at Grand Central, said: “We are delighted to be rated best value long-distance train operator for the fifth year running.

“We believe great things happen when people get moving, so we understand how important it is to provide great value opportunities for the local communities that we serve.

“The survey results show that we continuously listen to our customers, take on board what matters most to them – particularly focusing on consistently delivering the basics brilliantly – and translate their feedback into action.”