We still use fax machines to contact train crews, Northern Rail official admits in excruciating grilling

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A Northern Rail official has admitted the operator still uses fax machines to communicate with its train crews in an excruciating exchange about the state of its services. When Andy Burnham put to the rail official that he had heard Northern is still using fax machines, they argued that it was an issue of “depth and complexity” that would require a change in the agreement made with colleagues – a point disrupted by the incredulous Greater Manchester mayor. Our plan that we’re putting forward.” Mr Burnham interrupted: “People will say: ‘How come we have three decades of privatisation when money was being poured into the railway and you are still communicating via fax machines in 2024?’” The official admitted: “It is a very fair question. It isn’t as simple as turning them off tomorrow because at the moment we have an agreement to use the processes that we have, and in order to change that, we do have to change the agreement.” Mr Burnham countered: “I mean I personally don’t think many people watching this will consider replacing fax machines as issues of depth and complexity.” Northern has been issued with a “breach notice” by its owner the Department for Transport, which requires the operator to produce an improvement plan.