Northern Trains ready for national summer timetable change- with a major update coming for one Manchester route

Northern has announced the introduction of the summer timetable. With many people travelling in and around Greater Manchester and beyond for holidays and trips, the timetable will be of importance.

One of the biggest alterations to the timetable to affect Manchester will be the introduction of a new hourly service between Leeds and Chester on a Sunday. The service will pass through Manchester Victoria.

Elsewhere in the north west, to provide additional capacity through the Calder Valley during the on-going TransPennine Route Upgrade engineering work. Another note is that the ‘Dales Rail’ service from Blackpool North to Carlisle will not operate this summer, but Northern is already working with stakeholders on proposals to reintroduce the service in 2024.

The new timetable will come into effect on Sunday May 21. For the latest information, visit Northern’s website.

Tricia Williams, chief operating officer of Northern, said: “The new timetable coming into effect next month is part of a national timetable change process that takes place twice a year for all train operators in England. The train network is a complex system of interdependent parts and it is vital that changes are coordinated in this way.

“For the vast majority of our customers there is no change, but some will notice a slight re-timing of service – as such, I would advise all customers to check the timetable for any travel plans after May 21.

“There are a very small number of services that have been removed from the timetable which reflects customer demand and we have already communicated that information to those communities.”