Northern Rail agrees deal with RMT to restore Sunday services to East Lancashire

Sunday train services are set to return to East Lancashire after Northern Rail reached a landmark agreement with the RMT Union.

Around 70 trains will return each Sunday, starting from Sunday, December 13th to help travellers get around during the busy festive season.

A total of 230 trains will come back to routes across the North West and into Yorkshire, with a full Sunday timetable set to be restored by May 2027. The change will see the service between Manchester Victoria and Clitheroe become more frequent, with the current service running every two hours from Victoria to Clitheroe.

The announcement comes after a period of more than two years that Clitheroe residents went without regular Sunday services, marking a turning point for the town and Northern Rail.

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.

"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 of Sunday services will be phased to ensure Northern can deliver the changes reliably and sustainably, with further information about service improvements shared with customers as plans progress.

Jonathan Hinder MP expressed excitement over the news, stating in a Facebook post: “I’ve been campaigning on this since I was elected - whether that has been making the case down in Parliament to the Transport Secretary, or getting the Northern Rail bosses up to Clitheroe.

“To me, it’s been a clear example of something that would not be tolerated in London or the South East…But I’m now delighted to announce that Northern Rail will be returning to running trains 7-day week across the North West, with the Clitheroe Sunday service singled out as a priority for immediate reinstatement.

“It’s also great news for those using the Colne to Preston line, as while some services have run on Sundays, the reliability has been terrible and will now improve. I’ll keep you updated as the new timetables are agreed and details finalised”