Northern announces December timetable changes

This December, there will only be small changes to our timetable at Northern – 95% of the timetable will not change. This is in line with the announcement made by the rail industry back in July 2018 that there will be fewer timetable changes in December to ensure our customers get a more stable and reliable service.

Some Northern routes will see small changes to the timings of services, and some new services will be introduced, but many routes will see no change at all.

David Brown, Managing Director of Northern said: “We have taken the opportunity, where possible, to make small improvements to the robustness of the timetable in order to address some of the problems that arose in May. This was because the May timetable was a compromise timetable due to it being entirely re-written and delivered in 16 weeks rather than the normal 40 weeks following delays to Network Rail infrastructure improvements.”

“These improvements have in some cases enabled us to provide more journey options for some customers.”

The service enhancements will go hand-in-hand with further modernisation across the Northern network.

In spring 2019 Northern will introduce the first of its brand new trains on the network, giving customers an entirely new journey experience.

The multi-million pound improvement programme will also see the full refurbishment of the rest of the Northern fleet (243 trains, investment in better stations and more ways to buy tickets. And, of course, Northern’s oldest trains – the Pacers – will also be completely removed from the network.

Significant changes to be made with December timetable

• Additional weekday morning service (7.51am) between Hazel Grove and Manchester Piccadilly – calling at Woodsmoor, Davenport and Heaton Chapel
• The current Preston to Leeds service will be extended through to York calling at Church Fenton, providing new and faster journey opportunities between Leeds and York.
• Separate services will operate between York and Leeds, and between Selby and Leeds calling at Micklefield, East Garforth, Garforth and Crossgates. Customers travelling beyond Leeds from these stations will now have to change at Leeds.
• Services between Huddersfield and Leeds via Brighouse, and between Manchester Victoria and Leeds via Bradford, will terminate at Leeds
• New weekday morning (8.17am) service from Southport to Manchester Piccadilly via Wigan North Western
• Current weekday morning service (8.24am) from Southport to Leeds will start at Wigan North Western
• Additional weekday morning service to and from Lancaster and Morecambe
• Additional Sunday morning service (9.30am) from Stoke to Manchester Piccadilly
• Additional Sunday evening service (8.24pm) from Manchester Piccadilly to Stoke

For full details of the new timetables visit our station pages or National Rail Enquiries.