Groundbreaking Deal: More reliable Sunday rail services in the North West

Northern and the RMT union have reached a landmark agreement which will bring an end to the longest-running industrial dispute on the railway, and pave the way for a more reliable Sunday service for customers across the North West.

The agreement represents a significant step forward in modernising the railway, and creates the foundations for a seven-day service that can meet the growing demand for customers using the railway at the weekend.

It will allow Northern to begin restoring between 60 and 80 additional Sunday train services across the North West over the coming weeks, giving customers more opportunities to travel for work, leisure, shopping and days out.

Services will be reintroduced 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. Around 230 Sunday trains will be restored by May next year.

The agreement follows constructive collaboration between Northern and the RMT and marks an important turning point for the railway, its colleagues and the communities it serves.

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.

The agreement provides an important platform for Northern to continue improving its railway and delivering a better service for the communities it connects.

Northern is the second largest train operator in the UK, with 2,650 services a day to more than 500 stations across the North of England.