Cllr David Wilkinson outside Daisy Hill railway station

A new trial Sunday service is to be launched on the line that runs through Daisy Hill railway station.

The proposed service, operated by Northern Rail, would run hourly during the day on Sundays, with the last train departing from Manchester shortly after 6pm. Trains will run between Wigan Wallgate and Manchester Victoria, via Atherton and Walkden. It will be funded by the Greater Manchester Integrated Transport Authority (ITA) for a year before being reviewed.

The service is something Westhoughton South ward councillor David Wilkinson has been campaigning on for a number of years.

Cllr Wilkinson, who sits on the ITA, said: “This is fantastic news and it has received my full support. Now we need everyone to throw their support behind the trial and use it to its full potential.”

“Residents will now have the opportunity to enjoy Sunday rail travel. This will bring to an end an anomaly in that the Daisy Hill line is currently the only line in Greater Manchester without a Sunday service.”