Farron calls for rail prices to be linked with performance after summer of misery for commuters in the South Lakes

After mass cancellations and delays on South Cumbria's railways this summer, local MP Tim Farron has written to the Transport Secretary asking for rail prices to be linked with performance.

Next January, rail prices are set to increase by over 3%, meaning that an off-peak return from Oxenholme to London Euston will now cost over £100 for the first time.

Recent data found that trains were cancelled on the Furness Line at a rate of nearly one a day during the summer, while over a quarter of trains on the Lakes Line have been delayed since April.

Tim said: "Commuters in the South Lakes have endured a summer of misery, and are being forced to pay even more for less with another big increase in rail fares set for next year, as the fare to London breaks the £100 barrier.

"I've written to the government asking for there to be a linkage between rail prices and the previous years' rail performance.

"At the moment rail users in Cumbria are having to pay first class prices for third rate train services and this cannot be allowed to continue."