Congleton has now been without a Sunday train service for two years, despite the town’s MP continuing to debate the issue in parliament.
The state-owned Northern train service between Manchester Piccadilly and Stoke was replaced by bus services due to rest day working issues, a matter train operator Northern was still attempting to resolve last year.
Northern has been running fewer services since 22nd December 2024, because it has not been able to find enough conductors to work those days. Sundays are contractually outside the working week for North West conductors and Northern is reportedly negotiating with the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers over Sunday working.
Northern’s managing director Tricia Williams told a Transport for the North meeting last year that the reduced service was “not what we all want” but did offer customers “predictability”.
Congleton’s MP Sarah Russell said she had spoken to the Prime Minister Andy Burnham about the service this week.
Mrs Russell said: “I know how frustrating the ongoing lack of a Sunday service at Congleton station has been – I use the station myself.
“For many people, it’s an essential part of getting to work, visiting family and accessing opportunities across the region.
“I spoke to the prime minister about this, in person, this week. I raised the issue during a Parliamentary debate in June, where I made clear the disappointment being felt across Congleton.”
In Parliament, Mrs Russell said: “My residents are furious that they have no Sunday service from Congleton station and have not had one for a long time now.
“I would be very grateful if the minister took that back to the rail minister with the utmost urgency, because this really needs to move forward.”
She also talked about the “lack of accessibility” at Sandbach train station which she called “disastrous” and a “huge problem” for people who cannot manage the “extremely” steep stairs.
Last year the “Chronicle” reported that Richard Eadie, who works in the rail industry, said he feared there was no sign of a Sunday service resuming before April.
The “Chronicle” wrote on Thursday, 4th September 2025: “Mr Eadie raised his concerns in an email to MP Sarah Russell.
“He told her that there was ‘no desire, either from within Northern, the Department for Transport or Parliament generally’ to solve the industrial relations issues (rest day working problems) that have been impacting Northern services for a ‘significant time’ and that Congleton was affected more than most other places, due to not having any Sunday service at all”.
Speaking this week, Mrs Russell said Congleton deserved a seven-day railway service.
She said: “I know how strongly local people feel about this. Restoring a Sunday service is a priority for me, and I will continue making the case until this is resolved.”
In 2024, Northern and the union reached an interim principle agreement that offered conductors enhanced pay (up to double pay/125% plus a £200 booking fee per shift) to secure Sunday working. RMT members voted to reject this offer.
At the time of the rejected agreement, conductors earned an average of £185. The new proposal would see an increase in conductor average earnings to around £400 per shift.
