As some may know, the anticipated improvements to NW services have had to be delayed, partly because of knock-on problems electrifying the Great Western line from London to Bristol.

We are told that TPE (Trans Penning Express) will make improvements to their services, particularly after the Ordsall Chord linking Piccadilly and Victoria direct opens this year.  Along with the electrification of eth Bolton-Preston-Blackpool route by May 2018, there will be improvements to a number of inter-city lines and we will see better services to Leed/York, Manchester Airport and Glasgow, amongst others.

(Photo courtesy of A Proctor)

((And although the Settle and Carlisle service has seen regular train pulled by steam, this is not planned for Marple!))