Now Playing: Northern Rail

Northern Rail has taken an innovative approach to combating anti-social behaviour across its network: classical music, played via KeTech’s CIS and LLPA. Initially launched at a handful of stations with high rates of loitering and nuisance behaviour, the trial aimed to shift the atmosphere of the space – not through enforcement, but through environment. The impact was immediate and notable. Passengers reported a calmer mood. Staff noticed fewer incidents, and most importantly, the trial delivered on its aim: to reduce anti-social activity in a simple, elegant way.

Today, the initiative has been extended to 35 stations across the North of England. It’s been praised as a cost-effective and innovative behavioural deterrent – and it’s here to stay.

What makes this more than a clever trick is the infrastructure behind it. This is only possible through KeTech’s integrated Customer Information System (CIS) and Long Line Public Address (LLPA). The classical music doesn’t interrupt or obscure audio announcements – it’s cleverly integrated to automatically adjust volume whenever announcements are being made. Unlike other providers, KeTech’s platform allows operators to schedule and broadcast audio content station-by-station, automatically and remotely – without relying on local staff.

This feature is uniquely a KeTech capability, already delivering measurable benefits on a real UK rail network.