Friends of Sandbach Station have backed a campaign by Transport for the North (TfN) for people to ditch their car and take a fresh look at the train.

And they are urging passengers travelling by train from Sandbach to use the booking office whenever they can to buy tickets rather than booking on line or from the ticket machine.

Transport for the North is working with the rail industry to promote this sustainable transport option, with a shared aim – to improve passenger experience and play a pivotal role in achieving wider environmental efforts.

Switching from the car to the train and other forms of public transport can play a key role in driving down carbon emissions say TfN who are working to raise awareness of the contribution that choosing rail can make to protect the world.

The Rail Delivery Group has calculated that, on average, a train can remove up to 500 cars from the road and train operators themselves are lowering their own emissions so choosing the train over the car makes more sense than ever, says TfN.

David Hoggarth, Strategic Rail Director at Transport for the North said: "The train offer we have now in the North is not the train offer many will remember from before the pandemic.

"During the pandemic, Northern and TransPennine Express have completed the introduction of 145 new trains on to the network with flexible ticket offers, reliable Wi-fi and air conditioning.

"What's more, as we emerge from the pandemic, services are being re-introduced in a phased basis more tailored to demand and we are now seeing much better reliability.

"The pandemic gave everyone time to think – to re-assess our travel needs – and to give greater consideration to the environment when we do make the decision to travel – and in this context, rail is without doubt a sensible option if you are travelling between areas across the North."

David Hoggarth's comments have been backed by chairman of the Friends of Sandbach Station, John Scarrott who believes it is important we think of rail travel over using cars.

Mr Scarrott said: "It's an important means of transport more so now than ever before. The more people we get travelling by train the better and at Sandbach I am urging people to use the ticket office to purchase their tickets.

"It's important we keep that going as that is a link to so many other things. Please remember to buy tickets from the ticket office during the hours it's open if you can."

Recent research from the rail industry and University College London neuro scientists has also suggested that commuting to work by train offers psychological benefits in terms of well-being and brain function, providing further evidence to support the choice to travel to work via rail.

Last week saw TransPennine Express, which has already cut carbon emissions by 18 per cent since 2019, make a public commitment to drive down its emissions further, joining the Science Based Targets initiative to compile a clear set of targets to support a greener future for operations.

"We've known for a long time that rail travel is a great transport option," says David, "now is a great opportunity for people to embrace the benefits of making the change from road to rail. "

Transport for the North is set to publish its Decarbonisation Strategy before the end of the calendar year, outlining how the strategic body will lead the agenda for the North's transport of the future.