On track for a Christmas shuttle service

Transport bosses in Greater Manchester have welcomed the return of a Christmas shuttle service on the East Lancashire Railway line for the fourth year in a row.

Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority (GMPTA) is encouraging people to avoid the Christmas traffic and use the service over the festive season.

Running between Bury and Heywood stations, the shuttles will enable shoppers to travel to Heywood or Bury town centres with a scheduled journey time of just 13 minutes.

The Christmas shuttles will be served by one of the East Lancashire Railway’s heritage diesel units.

Councillor Yvonne Creswell, GMPTA spokesperson for Bury, said: “What better to way to reduce the stress of Christmas shopping than leaving the car at home and making an event out of it?

“I am sure these special services will be warmly welcomed by people looking to add a little magic to the festive season and avoid the Christmas traffic jams.”

Services will run on 29 and 30 November and on the three weekends before Christmas, as well as Monday 22, Tuesday 23 and Wednesday 24 December.

It is the fourth consecutive year that festive services have run on the line.
Graham Vevers, East Lancashire Railway’s Marketing Director, said: “These shuttles have been very popular in the past, allowing economical travel between the two town centres, and we are pleased once again to be able to offer the communities this service.”

Councillor Keith Whitmore, Vice Chair of GMPTA, said: “I’m delighted that the East Lancashire Railway has once again decided to run these services and I hope that they prove to be popular with shoppers and visitors alike.”

Trains will leave Bury at 8.55am, 9.50am, 11.15am, 12.30pm, 1.45pm, 3pm, 4.15pm and 5.30pm; and Heywood at 9.15am, 10.25am, 11.40am, 12.55pm, 2.10pm, 3.25pm and 4.45pm.

Christmas Eve services will finish earlier, with the last train departing Bury at 3pm and Heywood at 3.20pm.
Tickets can be bought from the booking office at Heywood station, which has free parking covered by CCTV. An adult return costs £3 and a child return (aged five to 15) is £2. Children aged under five travel for free.

For more details, contact the East Lancashire Railway from 10am until 4pm, seven days a week, on 0161 764 7790 or visit www.east-lancs-rly.co.uk.