Incompetence in the boardroom not leaves on the line to blame for Northern rail misery – MP

Commenting on the news that Northern have blamed excessive leaves on the line for over a quarter of their trains being late or cancelled during October, local MP Tim Farron said:

"Just when you think that Northern couldn't look any more of a laughing stock, they expect fed up commuters to believe that the onslaught of cancellations are largely down to leaves on the line.

"But this is no laughing matter for the thousands of people who rely on trains to be able to get to school and work.

"They deserve far better than a rail company who fob them off with embarrassing excuses, when it's actually down to their own failure to recruit enough drivers that is the main problem.

"If this was any other industry, Northern would have lost their franchise a long time ago - it's time for the Government to put everyone out of their misery and sack Northern."