The new timetable, effective from 8th December, has now been published. At first glance, it appears to be unchanged from the previous timetable, except during the period 24th December to 2nd January.
Link to timetable is
http://www.northernrail.org/pdfs/timetables/20131208/25.pdf
During the week between Christmas and New Year Manchester Victoria station will be shut for some major engineering works. Whilst the replacement timetable does not appear to have been published yet, we understand that trains will run as far as Ashton, and passengers for central Manchester have a choice of bus from Ashton to Victoria, or change at Stalybridge for train to Piccadilly.
It’s the next timetable change date, 18th May, when there will be some quite big changes especially for trains towards Manchester.