Festive launch for early Sunday train

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Members of STORM, Littleborough Brass Band and Santa ready to board the 08.53am Sunday service

A new early Sunday train from Rochdale to Manchester was launched this morning (12 December 2010) – with a little help from Santa.

The train, which leaves Rochdale at 08.53am, comes from a STORM (Support the Oldham, Rochdale and Manchester Rail Lines Group) campaign to introduce a new Sunday shopping and day out service.

It is hoped the service will also be of use for people who work in retail in Manchester and can get an earlier train.

On hand to launch the service was Santa. He boarded the train with a sack full of presents for the children and his helpers were armed with mince pies for the passengers. The Littleborough Public Brass Band entertained the early morning shoppers with a variety of festive songs.

Chairman of STORM, Richard Greenwood, said: “This is the launch of the new early Sunday train. The previous first train was at 09.41am but as a result of persuasion from STORM, Northern agreed to an earlier 08.53am train to Manchester.”

Mr Greenwood added: “Our next job is trying to improve the Sunday service for the rest of the day. We want to have two trains per hour rather than one.”

Mr Greenwood feels that one extra train per hour could be introduced at a minimum expense to rail bosses Northern.

He said: “Last May a Sunday service was launched between Manchester and Wigan via Atherton. STORM suggested that a train between Manchester and Wigan could start and finish at Rochdale. It would need just one extra unit and one extra crew and it would be a great help to passengers. Two trains per hour instead of one may also help with the overcrowding that occurs.”

Tomorrow (Monday 13 December 2010) will see the start of two extra trains in the evening running from Manchester to Rochdale at 07.55pm and 08.55pm.