[tkboomer2]

About 15 years ago I remember passing the Manchester to Chester via Altrincham train line while returning from Midnight Mass and seeing a passenger train in operation at about 1am on Christmas morning. I've never used a train on Christmas Eve, so never bothered to check what times they run. Although this week I noticed a poster Northern Rail had put up at train stations regarding services between 24th Dec and 1st Jan. It appears that for my local line the last train on Christmas Eve leaves Chester at 19:56 and in the other direction leaving Manchester at 20:24.

It looks like since privatisation that rail companies are unprepared to pay staff extra to work late on Christmas Eve.