In what is undoubtably the most fate tempting move of the summer so far, Northern has temporarily renamed Holmes Chapel station “It’s Coming Holmes Chapel” as the train operator throws its support behind England ahead of their semi-final clash with Argentina.
New signage has gone up across the station, with staff getting into the spirit of things ahead of what promises to be a nerve-shredding night for football fans across the North of England, and beyond.
The name change forms part of Northern’s efforts to spread a bit of positivity and get customers in the mood for the big match, with the operator encouraging fans travelling to pubs, fan zones and back home after the game to hop on the train rather than drive.
Alex Hornby, commercial and customer director for Northern, said: “It’s coming Holmes Chapel! With England taking on Argentina in the semi-final, we wanted to give our customers something to smile about on the way to wherever they’re watching the game.
“On a more serious note, we’re encouraging as many fans as possible to leave the car at home and travel by train, whether that’s heading into town for the atmosphere or just getting home safely after full time.
“We’ll have trains running late into the evening to help everyone get home once the football’s finished, but remember to check your last train times in case it goes to extra time or penalties.”
Northern operates services across the North of England, connecting communities to major towns and cities, and is encouraging supporters to check timetables in advance of matchday, as some late services may be busier than usual.
The station’s name will revert back to Holmes Chapel once the football silverware has been won or lost, whichever comes first.
Northern is the second largest train operator in the UK, with 2,650 services a day to more than 500 stations across the North of England.
