A MUCH-MALIGNED part of the rail network has said its last goodbyes.

For more than 35 years since they came into service during the mid-1980s, Pacer trains have been heavily criticised as they operated throughout Cumbria and northern England.

Last week train operator Northern rail retired its 102-strong fleet.

The final Pacer to carry customers made its swansong on Friday, travelling between Kirkby and Manchester Victoria train station.

Pacers had been gradually withdrawn since summer last year as part of a £600m upgrade programme.

Known for being slow, bouncy and noisy, they were often cited as an example of the disparity in transport investment between the north and the south.

Chris Jackson, regional director at Northern, said: “The Pacers have kept millions of northerners on the move and, while they have served us well and provided some communities with rail services they may have otherwise lost, it is time to give them a well-earned rest.

“Northern has overseen significant modernisation in recent months and the retiring Pacers have made way for a fleet of 100 brand-new trains which are already servicing people across the north of England.”

During their time on the network Northern’s fleet of 102 Pacers travelled more than 300 million miles – the equivalent of 630 return trips to the moon.

Retirement of the fleet began in the summer of 2019 and the trains have been gradually removed from service and more new and refurbished trains have been introduced.

Northern says its new trains have free wi-fi, air-conditioning and customer information/media screens with real-time information. They say they are more spacious and accessible, with space for wheelchairs and cycles.

On Friday transport secretary Grant Shapps said: “The Pacer fleet has connected communities on the Northern network for more than 30 years, but today marks the sun setting on trains that were loved by some, but hated by many.

“This marks a new era of transport in the north, with passengers enjoying a brand new fleet of trains, delivering more modern services and creating a more reliable network across the north.”

Pacers were introduced as a short-term solution for mainly rural routes, but also ended up being used on busy town and city routes.