Following a cross-party campaign led by Robert Largan MP, the two trains per hour service on the Manchester-Buxton railway line has been protected.

Earlier this year, the Department for Transport, Network Rail and Transport for the North consulted on proposals for a more reliable train service to create a more straightforward, more evenly spaced timetable, which reduces passengers' risk of delays and cancellations. 

The consultation asked for views on three options, which included potential changes on the Buxton to Manchester line, which serves Buxton, Dove Holes, Chapel-en-le-Frith, Whaley Bridge, Furness Vale and New Mills Newtown. One option could have cut the railway service on the Buxton-Manchester line, from two trains an hour down to just one.

Robert called on local people to respond to the consultation. He organised a cross-party effort to defend local services, working with Labour-led High Peak Borough Council and Conservative-led Derbyshire County Council.

This means that the new timetable structure will still enable two services per hour to operate to Buxton if this can be "justified by demand". Services on the Glossop-Hadfield line and the Hope Valley line remain almost entirely unchanged.

The final timetable is still to be set, and further consultation will be announced shortly. 

Robert Largan, MP for High Peak, commented: 

"I am pleased that, following a cross-party campaign that I led, the two trains per hour service on the Manchester-Buxton railway line has been protected.

"I am pleased that the timetable option which proposed cutting the Buxton line service has been rejected. 

"There is still work to be done to protect our local rail services, but the good news is that we've defeated the timetable option, which would have definitely cut the services on the Buxton line.

"This shows what we can achieve when we work together."