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About us

As part of Govia Thameslink Railway, Great Northern is part of the largest train operating company in the UK. Learn more about our current performance, planned improvements and the values that drive our trains

Who are we?

The Great Northern Railway was first established in 1846 to build a line between London and York.

Great Northern became a part of Govia Thameslink Railway in 2014. Our rail services now operate on the southern side of Britain's East Coast Main Line, with trains running to and from London King's Cross and Moorgate. Many of the services also run through parts of Greater London, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, and Norfolk.

Why choose Great Northern?

We work hard to ensure our customers always receive a high-quality service. Regardless of your destination, we always aim to get you there feeling relaxed and ready to go.

Every step of your Great Northern rail journey should be smooth and simple. Simply book your ticket, settle down in your seat, and we'll take care of the rest. We're committed to helping transform the rail industry so we can always deliver reliable services.

Our commitments

We're committed to providing you with a safe, comfortable, and reliable train service. Read on to find out how we do this.

Improving your railway

We're making hundreds of improvements to provide you with a better experience, including strengthening our contribution to the economy, increasing customer satisfaction and boosting local communities.

Investing in stations

We're investing millions of pounds into station improvements. Examples of our upgrades include:

  • New waiting shelters at Arlesey Station
  • Barcode readers installed at King's Cross, Stevenage and King's Lynn
  • InPost lockers installed at Winchmore Hill and Enfield Chase

Passenger's Charter

We review our Passenger's Charter every year and agree it with the Department of Transport. It details the standards you can expect from us, our commitments to you and how we're performing. You can download it or pick up a printed version at our stations.

Safety

Your safety and security is our top priority. Our Rail Enforcement Officers and Security personnel work hard to protect our passengers. And we work together with the British Transport Police to prevent crimes on our network.