Avanti delays leading to passengers missing late night connections to South Cumbria – MP

Local MP Tim Farron has written to the Managing Director of Avanti West Coast, Andy Mellors, urging him to take action on “unacceptable delays” which are leading to many passengers missing connections to South Cumbria.

Tim highlighted the weekday 19.30 train from London Euston which is scheduled to arrive at Lancaster at 21.57, giving passengers 12 minutes to make the connection onto the Furness Line at 22.09. 

According to figures collated by the Furness Line Community Rail Partnership (please find attached), in July and August this connection was only made 40% of the time (18 out of 45 days). 

In his letter Avanti’s Managing Director, Tim says, “Passengers are faced with a very unpalatable choice of either a lengthy wait at a dark and cold Lancaster station until the next train at 23.30, or pay for a taxi through their own pocket.

“The disruption this is causing to local residents, and also visitors who are wanting to travel to the beautiful seaside resorts of Arnside and Grange-over-Sands, is simply unacceptable and something desperately needs to change.

“Please will you outline how you intend to urgently address this so my constituents don’t continue to be left stranded at stations on cold winter late nights.”