Northern issue apology to family left stranded in Croston after buying tickets for a train that didn’t exist

This week, the Post reported how a family had been left stranded at a Croston railway station this weekend, after no-one had told them there were no trains on a Sunday.

A local councillor who volunteers at the station says others have regularly been left stranded at the station on Sunday.

The Post found Sunday tickets were still available from Croston on the Trainline website on Wednesday. But on Thursday, the same website had been updated to show no tickets for Sunday travel from Croston.

Tony Marriott, 42, and his pregnant partner Tegan Whittle, bought tickets for themselves, two children aged 12 and 10 and their pet dog, to travel from Croston to Bolton after a two-day glamping trip at Croston’s Royal Umpire Holiday Park.

After a "brilliant" weekend, they walked to the railway station on Sunday morning to catch their train home, where they only found out there were no Sunday trains from a group of village volunteers who tidy up the station at weekends.

Finding themselves “stuck” with no cash left, a relative had to transfer them some money in order to find a way home, and stock up on much needed refreshment on one of the hottest days this year.

Speaking to the Post, Tony asked: "Why would Northern sell us tickets to return on a Sunday when there isn't a single train that day?”

What does Northern say about Croston train station?

The Post has now been able to make contact with Northern Trains, the train company who run trains out of Croston.

A spokesperson for Northern said: "We are sorry the customers were unable to travel. We would urge them to get in touch with us so we can investigate why this was the case."

They added that Sunday tickets out of Croston have never been sold on the Northern website.

Nevertheless, the family, and other members of the public according to the Croston station volunteers, have been able to buy these phantom tickets somewhere.