Northern rail is the country’s second-largest operator and serves more than 500 stations across northern England.
It is understood that fax machines are used by train crew members to communicate over their rotas, or to book time off.
Conductors are also able to use email for this process, but the rail firm has so far been unable to reach an agreement with drivers – via their union ASLEF - to use anything other than fax machines.
A former driver at Northern told MailOnline that the firm offered drivers a free tablet computer which they could use to book days off or holiday around five years ago.
But the source said the offer, part of a new technology agreement, was rejected by train driver’s union ASLEF because the firm would not agree to an additional annual payment in recognition of the drivers’ acceptance of the new technology.
The source said: ‘The drivers were in favour of the tablets, the new system would’ve made their lives easier.
'But the union turned it down – they wanted not just one payment but an extra payment every year. In the end, I think the tablets were given to the conductors.’
He said the offer was made when the rail firm was run by private company Arriva Rail North, prior to being renationalised in March 2020.
The former driver added: ‘I’m all for strong trade unions but if you give them too much power they take advantage.
'ASLEF virtually run the bloody show at Northern, and I can’t see Andy Burnham doing much to stop them as he’s a trade union man at heart.’
The source said Northern also suffered from having its newly-qualified drivers poached by more ‘glamorous’ firms such as Avanti who offered higher salaries, meaning Northern was left struggling to fill gaps in rotas and run a full timetable.
Another source said faxes were not used ‘for everything (at Northern), but they are part of the machinery of communication’ within the company.
A spokesman for ASLEF: ‘We met with the company in December 2021 on the topic of moving to newer technology.
'The company decided not to continue with these discussions. We're always ready to discuss using new technology.
‘It's not the union holding up modernisation - Northern are the only company still using fax machines, as we've made agreements and moved forward with all the other operators. The ball is in their court.
‘The high level of delays and cancellations aren't caused by fax machines, though, they're down to Northern failing to hire and retain a sufficient number of drivers to run the service.
Thousands of training days are outstanding and some experienced drivers are leaving the company in search of better pay and conditions elsewhere in the industry.
Northern needs to hire a full roster of train drivers to deliver a full, reliable train service for the communities they serve.’
The RMT, which is he biggest union in the rail sector, still offers fax as a method of contact on its webpage.
A spokesman said: ‘When Northern Rail was privately run, they prioritised making profit over investing in new technology to improve the infrastructure of the company.
‘RMT has successfully negotiated the introduction of new technologies across the network including at Northern Rail.
‘We always consider carefully any reasonable proposals from management, and we do not stand in the way of technological developments.
‘However, as with any negotiation, we must ensure that any changes introduced protect jobs, terms and conditions of our members.’
In February this year, it was reported that then-striking train drivers were demanding extra ‘technology payments’ for using tablet devices at work.
Around 1,500 tablets - designed to send announcements to drivers and notify them of temporary speed limits on routes – were said to be waiting in a warehouse, unable to be distributed to drivers because ASLEF suggested the technology went beyond normal working practices of members.
The fax machine revelation came to light at an emergency meeting called by mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham to take Northern Rail to task over its poor performance.
Bosses told the Rail North Committee (RNC) that the train operator – which runs services across northern England - was using fax machines internally to communicate cancellations of rail services among staff and crews.
Mr Burnham said it was 'no wonder' passengers were receiving the news of cancellations late and told the firm's directors 'The north needs better than an unreliable fax-driven railway'.
During the meeting, which was broadcast online, an exasperated Mr Burnham asked how it could 'possibly be the case in 2024' that fax machines were still being used.
'People will ask after decades of privatisation, where has the money gone?' he said.
'Where has the money gone in the rail industry given that we are still using 1980s technology to communicate?'
Matt Rice, Chief Operating Officer at Northern Rail, replied: 'It is our challenge to get rid of them - it's in our plans to get rid of them. The tools we use to get messaging and information to our crew rely on faxes, amazingly.
'We will get there before we are forced to because fax technology, in telecoms terms, turns off.'
Mr Rice admitted it was 'ludicrous' that the firm was still relying on fax machines, before Mr Burnham said the situation gave the impression of 'a disregard to the travelling public'.
But Tricia Williams, the firm's Managing Director, said Northern wouldn't be able to get rid of the fax machines 'tomorrow' without agreement from trade unions.
She said: 'We have to look at these issues with the depth and complexity they have and the historical issues that we absolutely are going to address.
'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.'
The RNC advises the board of Transport for the North on rail services, infrastructure improvements and all matters relating rail franchises and contract management.
Read more 2024-10-30T21:57:54Z