Tim Farron asks Transport Secretary to intervene over failing rail services in Cumbria

Local MP Tim Farron has secured a promise from the Secretary of State for Transport, Louise Haigh, to take rail companies to task over their poor performance in Cumbria.

Speaking during an Urgent Question on Rail Performance in the House of Commons last week, Tim said: “After a weekend of cancellations at Windermere, Oxenholme and elsewhere, will the Secretary of State have a word with Northern Rail, to remind it that it is meant to run a rail service on a Sunday? 

“Will she also speak to Avanti because services from London Euston to Glasgow Central are habitually stopped at Preston, even when the track is clear all the way to the Scottish border and beyond? It harms my constituents at Oxenholme, and those in Penrith, Lancaster and Carlisle.”

Responding, Louise Haigh said: “I have routine conversations with Northern Rail, as the honourable Gentleman would imagine. The most recent was on Thursday. 

“We facilitated a new rest day working agreement with it, which has significantly reduced driver cancellations, but there is an outstanding issue with conductors; there is a very similar situation with Great Western. In parts of Northern Rail, particularly in the north-west, Sundays are not included in the working week.

“That has led to an unacceptable amount of cancellations, which we are working to resolve. 

“I will raise the issue of stopping at Preston with Avanti separately.”