AN MP is joining the voices calling for trains to begin stopping at stations in Farnworth and Kearsley on Sundays.

Yasmin Qureshi has taken the campaign to Westminster, calling on representatives from key transport bodies to add new stops to the weekend route.

Currently, Farnworth, Kearsley and Moses Gate stations are missed out on Sundays by trains travelling between Stalybridge and Wigan, despite being included in the route during the week.

In a letter to Barry White, chair of Transport for the North, the Bolton South East MP wrote: "A number of my constituents have contacted me following the roll-out of Northern Rail’s new timetable, to express their disappointment that a Sunday rail service for Moses Gate, Farnworth and Kearsley railway stations has not been included in the timetable.

"They, and I, believe that this leaves residents in these townships cut-off and excluded from social and economic activities that residents of other townships and central Bolton can enjoy on Sundays."

Ms Qureshi joins councillors from the Farnworth and Kearsley First Political Party who have been pushing for the new stops to be added to the route.

Despite the campaign, representatives from the Department of Transport and Northern say they are under no obligation to bring the three stops into use on Sundays.

In response to Ms Qureshi's questions, rail minister Andrew Jones said: "There are currently no plans to introduce a Sunday rail service at these stations as part of Northern’s franchise agreement, the specification for which was developed in consultation with local authorities and Transport for the North.

"Whilst the railway needs to balance passenger and stakeholder aspirations with the practical and economic viability of running additional services, ideas for these can always be put forward for consideration to Transport for the North."

In response to Ms Qureshi's efforts in Parliament, Kearsley councillor and Farnworth and Kearsley First member Paul Heslop reiterated his party's call for change.

"We will carry on campaigning on this issue," Cllr Heslop said. "The railway companies make it out as though it's a moral responsibility but to me it's all about providing services to people that would actually be profitable as well.

"The people have been so let down by infrequent services in the past that they have lost faith and part of restoring that faith is to bring adequate transport services.

"I absolutely agree with Yasmin Qureshi getting on board, the more people we can get involved the better."