OVER 40,000 people applied to work at Northern last year, with an average of 94 applicants for each role across the whole of 2020.

In a year impacted by COVID-19, Northern also bolstered its cleaning teams, with additional jobs created to help keep customers safe.

Tricia Williams, Chief Operating Officer at Northern, said: “It's great to see so many people want to work for Northern and want to help us achieve our goal of making a positive impact for the north of England".

Brian Currie, People Director, added: “We specifically want to reach out to those who may not have previously considered a career in the rail industry before.

"We are keen to deliver a diverse workforce that represents the communities we serve and want to attract more black, ethnic minority, female and younger people to rail".