People planning on travelling by train on the Hadfield-Manchester Piccadilly line on Sunday (11 July) are being warned that a reduced timetable will be in operation.

Northern has announced that a two-hourly service - rather than the usual hourly service - will be in operation, due to a number of conductors and drivers either testing positive for Covid-19 or having to self-isolate.

This will affect trains calling at Hadfield, Glossop, Dinting, Broadbottom, Hattersley, Godley, Newton for Hyde, Flowery Field, Guide Bridge, Gorton, Ashburys and Manchester Piccadilly stations on the line. 

Passengers are being strongly advised to check northernrailway.co.uk/journey-planner or nationalrail.co.uk before travelling. 

Chris Jackson, Regional Director at Northern, said: “Last weekend was difficult because of the impact of coronavirus, and the situation has not improved this week. The decision to change our train plan has not been taken lightly and, in doing so, we have had to balance the demand for services with our realistic ability to provide a reliable and punctual service for our customers. 

"We have opted to reduce frequency so we can maintain a service on most of our routes and keep customers on the move." 

Northern is also advising people to expect busier services on Sunday night following the Euro 2020 football final between England and Italy. 

The rail operator is asking those planning to travel on Sunday night to think carefully about their journeys and not to wait until the last train home and, in some cases, find an alternative method of travel. 

Mr Jackson added: “Of course, many people will want to support England and will be travelling to pubs and bars to watch the match. 

“With kick off at 8pm with reduced number of services and possible short notice cancellations, that only leaves a handful of trains on our key routes after the match to get people home and we’re asking our customers to plan ahead and to use all available services or alternative methods of travel.

"We’ll have buses on standby in many places to assist, but customers can help by staggering their journeys and not all waiting for the last train home.” 

High Peak MP Robert Largan says he urgently raised the matter with Northern, who have assured him that normal service will resume on the Hadfield-Manchester line on Monday (12 July). 

The MP added: "Initially they were proposing to reduce services on the Buxton-Manchester line as well, but after I asked them to look again at the timetable plans, they were able to keep the Buxton-Manchester service as an hourly service."