By David Wheeler
MAJOR TIMETABLE changes will come into place for rail users at Greenfield Station from Sunday, May 18.
An extra train will be running between Manchester Piccadilly and Leeds and so to accommodate this the times of almost all trains running through Greenfield are changing.
Now, trains will stop daily at Greenfield at 36 minutes past each hour, rather than 51 minutes past, and will leave Manchester Victoria at three minutes to each hour rather than 27 minutes past.
Trains between Greenfield and Manchester Victoria at the weekends will follow the same new hourly times.
Thanks to successful campaigning by Greenfield Rail Action Group, the new timetable also offers an earlier morning train to aid commuters and allow passengers to travel further, with more services now going on to Salford and Bolton.
The first train from Greenfield to Manchester Victoria will now leave at 6.36am, and services at 7.01am and 8.04am will run in addition to the hourly trains.
There are also additional services for commuters returning home, with trains leaving Manchester Victoria at 4.23pm and 5.11pm as well as the hourly services.
Mark Ashmore, Chairman of Greenfield Rail Action, said: “GRAG welcomes the fact that after much campaigning the 43-minute gap between trains in the morning peak has at long last been eliminated and the first train into Manchester is a useful 14 minutes earlier.
“In addition as most of the trains carry on to Salford Crescent and Bolton many longer journeys will be much simplified by using connections there.
“GRAG also welcomes the earlier Saturday trains which will, in particular, give much greater opportunities for Saturday work in Manchester City Centre.
“GRAG will continue to campaign for a 30 minute service throughout the day as well as later last trains, particularly at the weekend.”
Meanwhile, Greenfield and Mossley train stations have been added to Greater Manchester’s Top ten stations to be made disabled accessible, with work expected to be carried out with pre-electrification work by 2016.
The times printed should only be used as a guide and for more detailed information please pick up a timetable from Greenfield Train Station.
What do you think of the new timetable changes? Let the Saddleworth Independent know by calling Aimee on 01457 879264 or email aimee@saddind.co.uk
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