On October 3^rd 2009 Northern Rail stopped operating services on the Oldham Loop Line to allow work to begin converting the line for an extension to the Metrolink tram system. The five units that operated the service (The Oldham 5) were placed into ‘warm store’ and since 19^th October 2009 GMITA have been sponsoring 3 of the units for strengthening purposes in the Manchester area. 

From 12^th July 2010 The Department for Transport have agreed to pay for all 5 units to be used for strengthening peak Northern Rail services in the Manchester area, particularly on the Calder Valley and Clitheroe routes. Details of the services on the Lancashire community rail lines to benefit from this strengthening can be seen below:

• 05.55 Manchester Victoria to Clitheroe (Bolton 06.12, Blackburn 06.52, Clitheroe 07.17) strengthened from 150/x to 150/x + 153
   
• 06.57 Huddersfield to Southport (Manchester Victoria 07.47, Wigan Wallgate 08.26, Burscough Bridge 08.42, Southport 08.59) strengthened from 156 to 156 + 142 (already strengthened from 19th October 2009 as part of GMITA’s on going support)
   
• 07.23 Manchester Victoria to Blackburn (Bolton 07.42, Blackburn 08.20) strengthened from 153 to 150/x  

• 07.40 Clitheroe to Manchester (Blackburn 08.03, Bolton 08.30, Manchester Victoria 08.52) strenghtened from 150/x to 150/x + 153  

• 08.32 Blackburn to Manchester Victoria (Bolton 09.02, Manchester Victoria 09.26) strengthened from 153 to 150/x
    
• 15.40 Manchester Victoria to Clitheroe (Bolton 16.00, Blackburn 16.30, Clitheroe 16.56) strengthened from 153 to 150/x
   
• 16.03 Manchester Airport to Southport (Manchester Piccadilly 16.22, Manchester Oxford Road 16.26, Bolton 16.45, Wigan Wallgate 17.03, Burscough Bridge 1720,  Southport 17.37) strengthened from 150/x to 2 x 142
   
• 17.09 Clitheroe to Rochdale (Blackburn 17.31, Bolton 18.01, Manchester Victoria 18.24, Rochdale 18.47) strengthened from 153 to 150/x
   
• 18.00 Manchester Victoria to Clitheroe (Bolton 18.20, Blackburn 18.49, Clitheroe 19.14) strengthened from 150/x to 150/x + 153
   
• 18.23 Manchester Victoria to Blackburn (Bolton 18.43, Blackburn19.21) strengthened from 142 to 2 x 142
   
• 19.31 Blackburn to Manchester Victoria (Bolton 20.02, Manchester Victoria 20.24) strengthened from 142 to 2 x 142
   
• 19.40 Clitheroe to Manchester Victoria (Blackburn 20.03, Bolton 20.25, Manchester Victoria 20.52) strengthened from 150/x to 150/x + 153