Campaigners gathered at Congleton Station to mark two years since the last Sunday train stopped in the town.

Members of Congleton Train Users, local residents and town councillors came together on Sunday, September 20, to demand that Northern Trains finally resolves the long-running problems that have left the town effectively without a Sunday rail service.

For two years, Sunday trains have been replaced by bus replacement services which are often unreliable and sometimes fail to run at all.

The underlying problem is a continuing industrial relations dispute over Sunday working. Campaigners say that whatever the complexities of resolving that dispute, passengers should not be expected to bear the consequences indefinitely.

Councillor Kay Wesley, who chairs the Community Committee of Congleton Town Council, organised the protest.

She said: "The residents who came reflected the views we've heard from local people ever since our campaign began a year ago. People are appalled at the lack of Sunday trains, with some who work on Sundays losing income as a result of this missing service.

"They were also angry about services during the week, from trains that are unreliable or not big enough to fit all passengers, to the lack of late-night services from Manchester, making it impossible to use the train for theatre trips and nights out.

"Our railway service has not kept pace with the growth of our town and we are now the 'poor relation' in Cheshire with regard to rail transport. Northern needs to get its act together and dramatically improve services for the people of Congleton."

New rail services announced for neighbouring Alsager and Holmes Chapel will provide improved connections, including an hourly service between Birmingham New Street and Manchester Airport from May 2027, with both towns set to benefit.

The planned changes will also improve Sunday frequency on the Crewe–Manchester Airport route.

Richard Eadie, rail industry expert and campaigner with Congleton Train Users, said: "It is now two years since a Sunday train stopped at Congleton. Last year we gathered at the station to highlight what was already an unacceptable situation, and another whole year has passed without it being resolved.

"It's interesting that significant investment is going on down the line at Kidsgrove, but Congleton - a busier station, with at least 50,000 more passengers per year, still doesn't have a Sunday service.

"We understand that there are issues between Northern and its drivers over Sunday working and pay. But that dispute isn't the passengers' fault. It is Northern's responsibility to resolve it. Congleton has waited long enough."

Congleton Town Mayor, councillor Suzy Firkin, added: "I welcome the improvements being announced for Alsager and Holmes Chapel – people in those towns deserve good public transport. But so do the people of Congleton.

"Congleton should have a train service at least as good as our neighbouring towns. Instead, we have now gone two years without a Sunday train. We have met with Northern Trains and been assured they are trying to resolve the situation, but seen no progress.

"Our Prime Minister showed a strong commitment to improving connectivity across the North during his time as Mayor of Manchester. I hope he can now use his position to bring the relevant parties together at the highest level and help resolve this.

"At a time when we are encouraging people to use public transport and leave their cars at home, having effectively no rail service for one day every week makes no sense. Northern needs to sort this out and give Congleton back our Sunday trains."

Providing a statement ahead of the protest, a spokesperson for Northern said: "Our current Sunday timetable in the North West reflects the level of service we can reliably deliver while some conductors are contractually entitled not to work on Sundays," said a spokesperson for Northern.

"We know this is frustrating for customers, and we are working towards a resolution with our conductors and the RMT union.

"Once a solution has been reached, we will keep the timetable under close review and look to reinstate as many services as possible, as quickly as we can."