This is good news, and a much needed improvement to our very poor Sunday train service. Let's hope it proves to be more than temporary.
Earlier this year, Northern Rail, the UK's worst and most heavily subsidised railway company, had its franchise extended until February 2016. This despite the fact that it continues to run tiny, noisy, cramped, uncomfortable trains which are hopelessly overcrowded. And to add insult to injury, having had their franchise safely extended, they then whacked up fares by stopping the use of off-peak tickets in the late afternoon and early evening, even for passengers travelling in to Manchester.
Coming home last night on the 22.45 from Piccadilly (standing room only, of course) someone was telling me that he had travelled in to town earlier on a four-carriage train on which only two carriages were in use. And of course they too were standing room only. So even where Northern do have sufficient carriages, it seems they can't be bothered to open them for passengers to use. It's really poor customer service. We deserve better.