Northern to continue classical music at stations to deter bad behaviour

Northern says playing classical music at its stations has been "an effective deterrent" to anti-social behaviour

Rail firm Northern has said it will continue to play classical music at 35 stations to combat bad behaviour.

Works "inspired by Handel, Beethoven and Mozart" are piped out over public address systems at certain times.

The music was rolled out to more than 20 additional places last April following a pilot scheme at nine sites.

Northern said it had led to a "reduction" in reports of large groups loitering at its stations in the North West and North East of England.

The times the music is played varies from station to station in order to have what the firm describes as "the best impact on behaviour".

Customers 'feel safer'

Customer and commercial director Mark Powles previously said anti-social behaviour was "a nuisance in its lightest form and nothing short of a criminal act at its worst".

He added: "Unfortunately, railway stations - like many other public areas - can attract this sort of mindless behaviour, which is unfair and unsettling to our customers."

Asked whether the scheme had been a success 12 months on from its wider roll-out, a spokesman told the BBC that Northern had seen "an improvement in customer satisfaction scores" around security and anti-social behaviour.

He said the firm would "continue to play classical music ... as it was found to be an effective deterrent".

"Customers have told us they feel safer and we have seen a reduction in the number of reports of people loitering at the station in large groups without any intention of travelling," he explained.

The stations where music is played are:

• Beverley

• Billingham

• Birchwood

• Brinnington

• Bryn

• Cottingham

• Cross Gates

• Fitzwilliam

• Flimby

• Halewood

• Haltwhistle

• Hattersley

• Heighington

• Hyde North

• Ilkley

• Keighley

• Levenshulme

• Lostock Gralam

• Maryport

• Mill Hill

• Newton Aycliffe

• Newton for Hyde

• North Road

• Nunthorpe

• Orrell

• Penistone

• Rainhill

• Seaham

• Seaton Carew

• Shildon

• Sowerby Bridge

• Stockton

• Sunderland

• Ulverston

• Wetheral

• Whiston