Northern Rail's Blackpool service set to be changed.
 

From GMPTA website:

In December 2008 Northern Rail’s Buxton – Blackpool will split to form a
Buxton – Piccadily and Victoria - Blackpool and Northern Rail's Hazel Grove –
Piccadilly service will be extended to Bolton (and possibly to Preston).
This means that the number of services from Salford Crescent – Bolton in
each direction does not change.

The number of services from Salford Crescent to Manchester does not
change, although one will go to Victoria not Piccadilly.

Doesent really make sense as FTPE allready operate through BOLTON to BLACKPOOL !

People who have to change at Victoria for Piccadilly/Salford cres. to get to Blackpool have been asking for this for a few years as it is a popular holiday destination. Obviously FTPE weren't going to do it but as Northern already ran a Blackpool service it makes some sense. It also eases congestion at Ordsall Lane junction (where the Chat Moss line crosses the Cresent/Piccadilly line), although I doubt another service will take its place, despite the fact the Chat Moss Line needs it.

There are currently two services an hour from Manchester Piccadilly to Blackpool North, which both serve Bolton. One operated by Northern (most orginating at Buxton) and one operated by TPE (orginating at the Airport.) So Bolton won't get any extra trains to Blackpool, but Manchester Piccadilly will lose a train every hour and Stockport will lose it's direct service. Although, if the Hazel Grove to Preston proposal goes through then Stockport will keep a direct service to Preston, if it doesn't it could cause more overcrowding on the TPE Manchester Airport to Blackpool service.

After reading back that section I don't think it was a good idea to copy and paste it as it is one small section from towards the end of a long report. The full report is on GMPTA's website and is titled "1st February 2008 SUBJECT: The development of the December 2008 rail timetable within Greater Manchester."

In summary it is suggested that the following services:
* Buxton to Blackpool
* Hazel Grove to Manchester

are replaced by:
* Buxton to Manchester
* Hazel Grove to Bolton/Preston
* Manchester Victoria to Blackpool

with the Manchester Victoria to Bolton service unaffected.

However, Manchester Airport to Scotland services will cease to call at Salford Crescent meaning despite a new service serving Salford Crescent, it will not have any more trains serving it than at present. (A bit like what happened to Stalybridge a couple of years ago.)

The other major change will be that an additional Manchester Piccadilly to Manchester Airport will run every hour calling at all stations meaning Transpennine Express services will cease to call at Burnage, East Didsbury, Gatley and Mauldeth Road, but certain TPE services will continue to serve Heald Green. (That assumes Network Rail complete the third platform at Manchester Airport on time.)