Northern Rail is facing significant criticism from passengers and business owners alike due to its recent poor service, including over 1,000 train cancellations during a recent half term. Transport Secretary Louise Haigh and Northern’s management have acknowledged the problems and outlined an improvement plan aimed at increasing reliability and reducing cancellations. Passengers report long wait times and overcrowded trains, while local businesses express concern over the negative impact on tourism. Northern aims for 90% of services to run on time by 2027 as it navigates ongoing challenges.