Call for earlier trains

Rochdale rail travellers need earlier Sunday trains to go to work or shopping in Manchester, says a local support group.

Support the Oldham-Rochdale-Manchester rail group (STORM) says the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive (GMPTE) is discriminating against local rail commuters.

On Sundays, the earliest arrival time for any train from Rochdale is 10am.

STORM says every other town in Greater Manchester has at least one service arriving well before this, such as Bury and Altrincham (7.20am), Stalybridge (8.35am) and Bolton (9.13am).

STORM said many of the shops in Manchester city centre open on Sundays, and there is a demand from shop staff for a train service which will get them to work.

Spokesman Richard Greenwood said: “While the big stores may not open until 11am, this does not necessarily apply to smaller retail outlets and even in the bigger stores, staff have to be in work well before 11am.

“For other travellers hoping to make longer distance journeys via Manchester, being unable to arrive there before 10am is a serious disincentive to travel by train.”

GMPTE’s interim service delivery director, Michael Renshaw, said: “The Executive is currently working with operators and the Department for Transport to see what improvements can be introduced in the winter 2009 rail timetable.

“One of our recommendations is for improved Sunday services from Rochdale and Oldham to Manchester — including earlier services in the mornings.”

A final draft of the timetable which will come into effect on December 13 should be available in July.