MORE than 40,000 people applied for jobs with rail operator Northern last year, the company has revealed.

There was an average of 94 applicants for each of the 436 roles advertised by the firm, which runs services on the Airedale line.

Recruitment included drivers and conductors. And cleaning teams were bolstered to help keep trains and stations safe, for passengers and staff, during the pandemic.

Northern, whose workforce now totals over 6,000, says it has plans to create further jobs this year.

Tricia Williams, for the company, said: “It’s great to see that so many people want to work for Northern.

“We’ve recruited to more than 400 posts in the past year and whether the roles have been based on the frontline, in engineering, our control rooms or in one of many support functions, they all have the same aim – to put customers at the heart of our business and to deliver the best possible rail service.

“We are extremely proud of our people and, at the end of 2020, celebrated some of the outstanding contributions they made during a very challenging year through our Proud to be Northern awards.”

For more about jobs available, visit northernrailway.co.uk/careers.