Amended Sunday timetables from 22 December

We advise customers to check their journey before travelling particularly in the North West 

Recently, we have seen higher levels of cancellations in the North West and for that we are sorry. The underlying reason is train crew availability, in particular on Sundays which is contractually outside of the working week.

We encourage everyone to plan ahead and check journeys before travelling for the latest information and train times.

Sunday 22 December – Check before you travel

We advise customers to check their journey before travelling particularly in the North West.

Due to conductor unavailability, there will be some cancellations and alterations to our timetable on Sunday.

Journeys may be longer and less frequent than usual. Check before travelling, particularly the last services of the day which may be earlier than usual.

Rail replacement

On the following routes, a limited rail replacement bus service will be operating – journeys will be longer and less frequent.

• Preston - Colne
• Preston - Blackpool South
• Oxenholme - Windermere
• Stockport - Chester
• Stockport – Crewe
• Wigan North Western – Euxton - Preston

The following routes are also a replacement bus service, but are already part of the scheduled short term timetable (STP):

• Stockport – Stoke on Trent 
• Blackburn – Clitheroe
• Lancaster – Morecambe & Heysham
• Manchester Airport-Wilmslow
• Southport – Manchester Victoria

Gaps in services

The following routes are running but have large gaps in services. Check before travelling, particularly last services of the day which may be earlier than usual.

• Manchester Piccadilly - Sheffield (3 hourly)
• Manchester Piccadilly  - Buxton (4 hourly)
• Blackburn – Manchester Victoria via Todmorden (2hrly)
• Blackburn – Manchester Victoria via Bolton (2hrly)
• Liverpool Lime Street – Manchester Oxford Rd via Newton Le Willows (2hrly)
• Liverpool Lime Street- Wigan (2hrly) – early finishing and later starting trains
• Manchester Victoria – Leeds - late services cancelled
• Blackpool North – York – reduced early/late services

Amended Timetable - From 22 December 2024

Sundays in the West (from 22 December)

From Sunday, 22nd December, an amended timetable will be in the North West due to conductor availability. This timetable is designed to provide more certainty about the services that will run and reduce short-notice cancellations.

Sundays in the East & North East (22 & 29 December)

A short-term timetable is planned for Sunday, 22nd December, and Sunday, 29th December (ONLY), due to train crew availability and engineering works. This timetable aims to give passengers more certainty about services and minimise last-minute cancellations.

National Rail Journey Planner Check Live Trains  

Christmas travel

Travelling over the festive period? Details about planned engineering works and disruption over Christmas can be found on the link below. 

Christmas Travel Information

Ticket acceptance

If your Northern train has been cancelled you can travel on other Northern trains before or after your original time (on the same route, valid all day. 

If your Northern train is cancelled you can use your ticket on Transpennine Express, or LNER trains up to 2 hours before or 2 hours after at no extra cost.  

Sundays 22 & 29 December: If your Northern train has been cancelled you can travel on the other train operators below:

• TPT: you can use your ticket on Transpennine Express trains, up to 2 hours before or 2 hours after your scheduled service is cancelled. 
• TFW:
  • Manchester – Chester
  • Manchester – Crewe
• EMR:
  • Liverpool – Warrington – Manchester
  • Manchester – Sheffield
• Crosscountry
  • Manchester – Stoke
• Merseyrail:
  • Liverpool – Hunt’s Cross
  • Liverpool – Southport
• Metrolink – 
  • Ashton – Manchester
  • Altrincham - Manchester
• Avanti West Coast. 
  • Manchester – Stoke
  • Manchester – Crewe 
  • Warrington Bank Quay – Oxenholme 
• Bee Network Bus
  •  192 route only between Stockport and Hazel Grove

Refunds and Delay Repay 

If your train is cancelled, you can claim a full refund, (provided your ticket was purchased through Northern). More details can be found on the refunds page.

If your train is delayed you can claim a refund depending on the length of delay using the Delay Repay portal. 

Refunds  Delay Repay