Improved connections pulling in to Wigan from this weekend

From 10 December timetable changes will see services increase from every hour to every 30 minutes on Sundays

Liam Sumpter, Regional Director at Northern, said: “We are just a couple of days away from timetable changes that will offer new travel possibilities for customers in Wigan.

The changes are part of a wide-ranging modernisation programme that will also see us add more than 2,000 extra services each week by 2020.

The service enhancements will go hand-in-hand with further modernisation across the Northern network, including new and fully refurbished trains, better stations and more ways to buy tickets. Northern’s oldest trains (Pacers) will also be removed from the network – with the entire programme delivered by 2020.

Andy Barlow, Chair of Friends of Walkden Station, said: “FoWS isdelighted the re-introduction of Sunday services pioneered by TfGM and Northern in 2010 has proven so successful that services are being extended to run more frequently and well into the evening, opening up even more journey opportunities.

"The extra trains will be particularly appreciated in the approach to Christmas, and we look forward to the timetable change in May, when further Monday-to-Saturday improvements are also likely to be launched by Northern.”

Liam added: “In the coming months and years our customers will see further improvements as we work to modernise our stations and facilities.

“We will also continue to improve our current fleet of trains and, from next year, will begin the introduction of 286 new, purpose built carriages. These trains will provide more space and enable us to add more than 2,000 services every week, building on the 2,500 we already operate each day.

“This is just the beginning of modernisation for our customers and there are many more exciting improvements to come on our journey to 2020.”