Northern and the RMT union have negotiated a landmark agreement that will pave the way for more reliable Sunday services for customers across the North West of England.
The agreement, which aims to bring an end to the longest-running industrial dispute on the railway, will create the foundations for a seven-day service that meets the growing demand for customers using the railway during the weekend.
Once finalised, the agreement will allow Northern to begin restoring anywhere between 60 and 80 additional Sunday train services across the North West, with operation set to begin over the next few weeks.
The newly-restored services will be introduced incrementally, with a focus on supporting key events such as the Christmas markets and prioritising routes which have seen no Sunday services for more than two years. In total, Northern has announced intentions to restore roughly 230 Sunday trains by May 2027.
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.
