Rail Passengers in and around Manchester are being given the chance to have their say on changes to services.

Launched yesterday, the consultation will give passengers 3 options for changes routes which have direct services to Manchester Airport, Manchester Picadilly and Manchester Oxford Road stations.

The changes are to give passengers a more reliable service while changes to the infrastructure are developed in the long term.

Before the Coronavirus pandemic, congestion in the region often created delays around Manchester.

Once an option has been agreed the changes are scheduled to be introduced into the May 2022 timetable changes.

You can read more about the Manchester timetable consultation and how journeys may be affected here on the Government website and also on the Transport for the North website here

Chris Heaton-Harris, Rail Minister, said: ” We are putting the power to improve Manchester’s rail network in the hands of those that use it daily. I urge passengers to use this opportunity to comment on the future of your railway. Improving punctuality and reliability is one of my key priorities. As we continue to build back better from the pandemic, these proposals will ensure that the rail network is more dependable for those who use it every day.”

Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said: I welcome this consultation and the government’s focus on this issue. The bottleneck in central Manchester is a problem for the whole of the north – and solving these congestion issues will improve the reliability of rail services for passengers right across the north.

As we look to build back better from the pandemic, we want to work with the government to deliver a reliable and dependable timetable, alongside the much-needed upgrades to our Victorian infrastructure.

Liam Robinson, Transport for The North‘s Rail North Committee Chair, said: “Passengers need a better deal when it comes to reliability. When they return to the north’s trains, they need to step onto services with confidence. Manchester’s congested rail network has long been the source of delays and frustration for passengers, with knock-on effects for the north’s communities. We urge everyone to take a look and give their view on these proposals. While the goal of these short-term changes is to reduce delays and increase reliability, it is clear that the work we are doing with government and the industry on longer-term investment in rail infrastructure is also critically important, alongside changes to services.”

Phil James, Network Rail route director for the North West, said: “The proposed changes to the timetable in Manchester aim to give passengers across the north consistently safe and reliable train services, running to a schedule they can trust. We look forward to hearing people’s views on it.”

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