Northern releases travel advice calendar for trains over Christmas and New Year

TRAIN operator Northern has released a calendar to provide customers with a handy reference guide for service levels over the festive period.

The calendar, which covers:- 22 December to 4 January 2025, highlights the fact that services will end earlier than usual on Christmas Eve.

There are no trains running on Christmas Day or Boxing Day, and train services will be disrupted between Leeds and York from 27 December until the end of January due to planned improvement works as part of the Transpennine Route Upgrade.

Following its successful introduction last year, Northern will again run a limited-stop special service for people looking to visit Whitby on New Year's Day. Two fast trains will run in each direction between Darlington, Middlesbrough and Whitby.

Matt Rice, Chief Operating Officer at Northern, said:- "We hope this travel advice calendar will be useful for everybody using our trains over Christmas and New Year. Whilst fewer people are travelling, Network Rail will be carrying out a range of improvement works across the network, so I'd encourage customers to 'check before you travel' over the festive period to see if your journey is affected."

For more information about travel over Christmas, visit:- NorthernRailway.Co.UK.

Christmas shoebox charity appeal inspires generosity at Southport Primary School

SCHOOL children at a Southport Primary School have been creating charity shoeboxes as part of their Christmas charity campaign this month, with the shoeboxes going to some of the most disadvantaged children across Europe.

Pupils from Year 2 at Linaker Primary School in Southport, part of the Endeavour Learning Trust, have created over 20 charity shoeboxes as part of the Rotary Shoebox Scheme.

This project helps provide children most in need with a small parcel of gifts and essential items to bring joy this Christmas season.

Donations from pupils included items like:- toys and games, jigsaw puzzles, crayons, pens, colouring books, wooden or plastic toys, games, playdough, as well as practical items like:- warm clothing, hats, scarves, gloves and other cosy accessories.

The Rotary Shoebox Scheme collects and sends shoeboxes filled with gifts to disadvantaged children in:- Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, and Ukraine (via Poland), ensuring they receive them in time for Christmas.

Mark Cunniffe, Headteacher at Linaker, commented:- "Our charitable spirit runs deep at Linaker, and our diverse community means we have a very international outlook. Our pupils have taken to our shoebox appeal with real enthusiasm, powered by them knowing they're making a difference to children just like themselves across Europe."

What are your thoughts on this news topic? Email our Newsroom at:- News24@SouthportReporter.Com or send us a message on:- Mastodon, Facebook, or Twitter. Please do let us know as we love to hear your views....