MP expresses local people’s frustration at ‘shambolic’ Lakes Line service during meeting with Northern

Local MP Tim Farron has told managers at the rail company Northern that passengers on the Lakes Line are choosing to boycott the line because they are so fed up with the poor service.

In a face to face meeting, Tim put Northern managers on the spot.

People have been subjected to an onslaught of cancellations and long delays in recent months. On one day earlier this month a total of 14 trains were cancelled on the line.

Tim has also written to the Department for Transport calling for Arriva Rail North to be stripped of the franchise.

Representatives from Northern explained that the recent spike in the number of cancellations in recent years was down to issues to with staff shortages.

They also mentioned that last year's decision by the Conservative Government to cancel electrification of the line has resulted in slower, less reliable diesel trains being used.

Tim said: "Over the past six weeks, my postbag has been filled to the brim with letters from local people who are sick and tired of turning up to the station to find their train has been cancelled.

"I've seen it for myself too when I've been at Oxenholme and Windermere stations recently.

"I was able to express people's frustrations when I met with Northern last week.

"Fourteen cancellations in a day is simply not good enough and local people deserve better than this shambles.

"However, the blame doesn't lie solely at Northern's door.

"The Government's decision to shelve plans for electrification and not provide the line with the proper resources, while it obviously doesn't excuse Northern's poor performance, has clearly been a major factor in local people receiving such a shoddy service."