FURIOUS commuters have hit out at a new railway timetable which they say will leave them stranded at rush hour.

Passengers travelling from Bolton to Manchester and Wigan, and from Preston to Hazel Grove via Bolton and Manchester Piccadilly, are opposed to the changes, claiming they will have to catch trains earlier in the morning and later in the evening.

But Northern Rail bosses say services will be improved.

The new timetable, which comes into effect on Sunday, December 14, means times will change for 1,300 daily services.

A half-hourly service will leave Manchester Victoria at seven and 33 minutes past the hour and Wigan Wallgate at 20 and 48 minutes past the hour.

Northern Rail says the changes mean there will be an extra train per hour calling at Bolton, Lostock, Horwich Parkway and an hourly service for Kearsley, Farnworth and Moses Gate stations.

But commuters say the changes will have a big impact on their lives.

Gillian Scaife, of Little Lever, travels from Moses Gate to Salford Central.

She catches the 8.17am from Moses Gate, which will now be at 8.05am, and instead of the 4.13pm home, she will have to wait until 4.39pm.

Mrs Scaife said: “I’m so angry. I will have a much longer day, getting up earlier and getting home later. I will be late to collect my children.”

Stanley Wilson, of Lower Austin, Lostock, said: “There is a marked deterioration in availability of trains to and from Manchester Piccadilly. If the use of public transport is to be increased, it has to meet the needs of the travelling public.”