A collaboration between Northern and InPost, which are Europe’s leading automated parcel machine service providers, has now seen its 100th locker put in place on the rail operator’s network.

The partnership got underway in March 2021 as part of Northern’s pledge to improve its 476 stations for rail users and local communities surrounding its stations as part of its ‘Stations as a Place’ programme.

InPost was founded in Poland back in 1999 and now has a massive 50,000 Out of Home delivery options through nine major European markets and partnering with some of the UK’s largest online retailers such as Vinted, eBay, BooHoo and PrettyLittleThing.

Mark Powles, commercial and customer director at Northern, said: “Our network reaches right into the heart of hundreds of communities across the North of England.”

“By opening up our station estate to products and services such as those provided by InPost, we’re able to make life easier for our customers. But we’re also supporting the business community too, as InPost research suggests that 50% of their locker users go on to visit nearby shops.”

“Lockers are three times greener than traditional home delivery, reducing congestion in residential areas and helping people cut the carbon emissions of their shopping. It’s win-win.”

Peter Blackburn, international commercial director at InPost, said: “We are rapidly growing our network of over 5,000 parcel lockers in the UK to meet the demand from consumers and businesses alike for convenient parcel delivery services. Today’s announcement is indicative of this–and it’s great to see Northern’s passengers benefit from our locker network.”

“Whether commuting or travelling for leisure, passengers can now easily drop off and pick up parcels at a time and location that suits them. We are proud of the additional benefits that our partnership is also bringing local communities, alongside convenience, as the addition of our lockers helps to reinforce these locations as important hubs for the local community.”

The rail operators ‘Stations as a Place’ scheme has seen work carried out with local and national businesses in order to provide new facilities, services and capabilities to stations and has seen the addition of:

• Convenience stores
• Meeting rooms
• Flexible working spaces
• Community facilities
• Electric car charging

Mark Powles also said: “Our stations are busy places with high daily footfall and we’re always interested to hear from business owners and leaders who want to work with us.”

To find out more please visit: http://www.northernrailway.co.uk/about-us/commercial/commercial-rental-opportunities

The InPost lockers at Northern stations are available 24 hours a day and are located in convenient and accessible places allowing people to collect or return parcels with ease whilst carrying out their daily commute.

The lockers can be found at the following stations: Adlington (Cheshire), Alderley Edge, Allens West, Altrincham, Apperley Bridge, Ashley, Ashton-Under-Lyne, Atherton, Baildon, Barnsley, Barrow In Furness, Belle Vue, Bentley, Berry Brow, Bishop Auckland, Blackpool North, Bradford Forster Square, Bramley, Bredbury, Brinnington, Broadbottom, Buckshaw Parkway, Burnley Central, Burscough Bridge, Carnforth, Castleton, Cheadle Hulme, Chorley, Congleton, Cottingley, Cross Gates, Croston, Disley, Dove Holes, Driffield, Eccleston Park, Euxton Balshaw Lane, Garforth, Gargrave, Garswood, Gathurst, Glasshoughton, Goole, Green Bank, Guide Bridge, Handforth, Harrogate, Hatfield and Stainforth, Hazel Grove, Headingley, Heald Green, Heysham Port, Holmes Chapel, Hornbeam Park, Hough Green, Huyton, Hyde Central, Hyde North, Irlam, Kearsley, Kirkstall Forge, Knottingley, Knutsford, Lea Green, Littleborough, Lockwood, Low Moor, Lytham, Marton, Mauldeth Road, Menston, Micklefield, Mouldsworth, Mytholmroyd, New Mills Newtown, New Pudsey, Newton-Le-Willows, Nunthorpe, Outwood, Padgate, Parton, Patricroft, Penistone, Pontefract Monkhill, Poppleton, Poynton, Reddish North, Rochdale, Rose Hill (Marple), Sandbach, Sankey For Penketh, Seaham, Shipley, Silverdale, Slaithwaite, South Elmsall, St.Helens Central, Starbeck, Strines, Styal, Todmorden, Wakefield Kirkgate, Widnes and Wilmslow.

Northern will bring its new summer timetable into action on Sunday the 21st of May and all customers are advised to check it ahead of making journeys, especially for those who travel regularly. To see the timetable, please visit: http://www.northernrailway.co.uk/timetablechange