Major travel update as Northern reaches landmark agreement to restore Sunday train services serving Blackpool
“This agreement gives us the foundation to build a more reliable, modern railway that works seven days a week.”
Train operator Northern has reached a landmark agreement with the RMT union which will bring an end to the longest-running industrial dispute on the railway and pave the way for more reliable Sunday services across the North West, including routes serving Blackpool.
The agreement will allow Northern to begin restoring between 60 and 80 additional Sunday train services across the region over the coming weeks, giving passengers more opportunities to travel for work, leisure, shopping and days out.
Services will be reintroduced gradually, with priority given to routes that have had no Sunday services for more than two years and key events such as the Christmas markets. Around 230 Sunday trains are expected to be restored by May next year.
The nine-year dispute between the RMT and Northern centred around working arrangements and eventually led to some lines in the North West losing their Sunday services. Northern said the new agreement marked a significant step towards modernising the railway and creating a seven-day service to meet growing demand for weekend travel.
Tricia Williams, managing director of Northern, said: "This is a genuinely groundbreaking agreement and a hugely positive moment for our customers, our colleagues and the railway across the North of England.
"Bringing an end to the longest-running trade dispute on the railway gives us the opportunity to look forward and, importantly, start delivering the improvements our customers have been waiting for.
"We want people to have confidence that they can travel by train on a Sunday, whether they are going to work, visiting friends and family, heading into a city centre or enjoying a day out. This agreement gives us the foundation to build a more reliable, modern railway that works seven days a week.
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"We know how frustrating the lack of Sunday services has been for many communities. We are committed to bringing services back as quickly as we can, taking a phased approach over the coming months and prioritising those routes and journeys where the impact has been greatest.
"I would also like to recognise the constructive work with the RMT in reaching this agreement. It demonstrates what can be achieved through working together, and gives us a real opportunity to move forward."
The restoration will be phased to ensure services can be delivered reliably and sustainably, with further details shared with passengers as plans progress. Northern operates 2,650 services a day to more than 500 stations across the North of England, making it the UK's second-largest train operator.