TRANSPORT operator Northern is bringing back Sunday trains to North Staffordshire.
Sunday rail services have been replaced by replacement buses on the line linking Stoke Station and Manchester Piccadilly owing to an industrial dispute.
But Northern has now settled the disagreement with conductors and the RMT Union.
It means five trains will now run in both directions on Sundays between Stoke Station and Manchester Piccadilly – starting from this Sunday.
The news has been welcomed by Stoke-on-Trent MP David Williams, below, who said the Government had been involved in settling the dispute.
He said: “Passengers deserve a service that they can rely on and be proud of.
“This has been lacking for a very considerable period of time and I know it has been miserable for residents across our area.
“I am therefore pleased that the Secretary of State heard the calls from residents across Kidsgrove, Stoke-on-Trent and surrounding areas to get Northern Trains and the RMT Union around the table so that they could find a solution which means passengers can expect more frequent and reliable train services locally.
“While this is great news for Stoke Station, the issue was felt most acutely in Kidsgrove where no alternative was available. I am delighted, too, that trains on the Stoke-on-Trent to Manchester Piccadilly line are being prioritised.
“This will make travel easier for families and commuters, especially in the run-up to Christmas”.
Congleton Station passengers have been lumbered with Sunday rail replacement buses for two years. The situation has triggered protests.
A Congleton Town Council spokesman said: “Seven-day train service set to return. Great team effort from all involved.”
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander, said: “We’re paving the way for biggest transformation to travel in the north in a generation, unlocking jobs, homes and opportunities and creating a world-class growth corridor that people of the region need and deserve.”
Northern hopes to add more trains to its Sunday timetables.
Managing director Tricia Williams said: “This is a genuinely groundbreaking agreement and a hugely positive moment for our customers, our colleagues and the railway across the North of England.
“We know how frustrating the lack of Sunday services has been for many communities. We are committed to bringing services back as quickly as we can, taking a phased approach over the coming months and prioritising those routes and journeys where the impact has been greatest.”