Lack of Sunday trains 'unacceptable failure'

Congleton Station currently has no trains calling on a Sunday

The lack of Sunday train services calling at a Cheshire town has been deemed an "unacceptable failure" by councillors.

Currently, no trains are scheduled to call at Congleton on Sundays, leaving passengers to catch a rail replacement bus from Macclesfield or Stoke-on-Trent to reach their destination.

More than 700 people have signed a petition calling for rail services to be brought back and a report has urged the Congleton Town Council to get behind the campaign.

Operator Northern said it was keeping the timetable "under review" and looking to "restore as many services as possible, as quickly as possible".

The local authority will be discussing the report on Sunday rail services at a meeting on Thursday.

It said the town has been without a Sunday service for more than a year which makes weekend trips from Congleton "all but impossible".

The replacement bus service provides six buses in each direction on a Sunday, the report added, and said the services are "significantly less efficient" than travelling by train.

Councillors are being asked to request a meeting with Northern, and to publicise the petition on its platforms.

A spokesperson for Northern added: "Getting to a place where we are no longer reliant on conductors in the north west volunteering to work Sundays remains a priority.

"We've made good progress in talks with the union and are looking to reach an agreement, through a successful referendum with conductors.

"We will keep the timetable under review and look to restore as many services as possible, as quickly as possible, for customers."