COMMUTERS have been offered some reprieve from a week of disruption.

Marsden and Slaithwaite were due to lose all train services for nine days while a £20m upgrade is carried out along the track at Stalybridge.

The work will take place from Saturday, October 27 to Sunday, November 4.

But councillors have lobbied for a weekday early-morning commuter service from the Colne Valley to Leeds during the line closure.

Northern Rail has announced that between Monday, October 29 and Friday, November 2 there will be one train a day leaving Marsden at 6.48am. The service will call at Slaithwaite at 6.52am before carrying on to Huddersfield and Leeds.

Clr Paul Salveson, who lobbied for the service, welcomed the news.

“Having no train service for nine days is a major inconvenience for many people in the Colne Valley though we recognise the importance of the engineering works at Stalybridge,” said the Golcar Labour man.

“However, we are very pleased that Northern Rail has agreed to run a morning commuter service from Marsden and Slaithwaite to Leeds.

“Apart from this, trains will be replaced by a special bus service and details will be available on the Metro website and at stations.

“I’m grateful for the cross-party support of my colleagues in Colne Valley ward, deputy chair of Metro Clr Eric Firth and local MP Jason McCartney in winning this concession.”

Clr Salveson, a former senior manager at Northern Rail, warned there would be further disruptions to Colne Valley’s rail service.

“Over the next year there will be more occasions when the train service will be suspended as the route is electrified and we need to make sure that disruption to local passengers is minimised and a replacement train service is provided whenever possible,” he said.

Stalybridge station will be closed for nine days to allow for a major upgrade to tracks and signalling as well as alterations to the platforms, coffee shop and other passenger facilities.

The changes will mean trains will be able to travel at 50mph rather than 40mph through the station.

For more information on the works visit www.northernrail.org/news/7085