The return of Sunday rail services between Blackburn and Clitheroe has been welcomed as part of a landmark agreement that will help strengthen rail services across the North.
The agreement between Northern, its conductors and the RMT Union brings a long-running dispute to a close and creates the foundations for a more reliable seven-day railway.
As well as supporting the return of Sunday services, it will help deliver wider improvements for customers and railway staff, including greater reliability, enhanced training, improved accessibility and new technology.
As part of a phased programme of service reinstatements, Sunday trains will return between Blackburn and Clitheroe from 13 December, restoring an important connection for residents, businesses and visitors in the run up to the busy Christmas period. Further Sunday services will be reintroduced across the North West and Yorkshire over the coming months, with around 230 services expected to return in full by May 2027.
The return of the Blackburn-Clitheroe service will make it easier for people to travel for work, education and leisure, visit friends and family, and access town centres, events and attractions without relying on a car.
Councillor Phil Riley, Chair of the Lancashire Combined County Authority's Transport Advisory Board and Leader of Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, has consistently raised the importance of reliable rail services which play a key role in the vitality of local economies. Through his role as Lancashire’s representative on Transport for the North, he has continued to press for improvements including more dependable services, increased capacity and better connections for local communities.
This year, support from the Lancashire Combined County Authority has provided additional peak-time bus journeys for people travelling to work, school and college. Further improvements have also been developed for local bus services, including new and enhanced routes, earlier morning and later evening journeys, and improved weekend services, providing better connections for communities.
Councillor Riley, said:
"This is something I've been banging the drum about for a long time, so seeing Sunday services return between Blackburn and Clitheroe is really welcome news.
"Residents should be able to rely on public transport throughout the week and this agreement is an important step towards building a stronger and more dependable seven-day railway across the North.
"These services connect people to jobs, education, family and friends, as well as supporting local businesses, visitor attractions and town centres.
"It's particularly encouraging that Blackburn and Clitheroe has been included in the first phase of service reinstatements, restoring a link that communities have missed for some time.
"Alongside improvements we're seeing to local bus services, this is another positive step forward for public transport in our area.
"There is still more to do and I'll continue making the case for better connections for the wider area. But this is welcome progress and a change that residents will notice and benefit from."