RAIL watchdogs are heading for the House of Commons to protest at cuts in train services to the Lake District, Liverpool and Blackpool.
The Rail Passengers Committee North Western England is joining a top-level delegation to the Government's Strategic Rail Authority on Monday (April 14).
The rail watchdog will press home the case for rail to Richard Bowker, the chairman and chief executive of the SRA at the special meeting.
The watchdog says the cutbacks follow a review of capacity by the SRA which is concerned there are too many trains on the network and this is hitting reliability.
But the Rail Passengers Committee says this will adversely affect travellers.
The watchdog says the reduction in frequency of stops at railhead stations for the Lake District (Lancaster, Oxenholme and Penrith) would have a negative impact on tourism as would the withdrawal of the Leeds-Glasgow train which travels the scenic Settle-Carlisle railway.
It is also protesting against the ending of direct services to Blackpool.
Watchdog chairman Brendan O'Friel said: "We will be seeking assurances from the SRA that such services cannot simply be removed, firstly without consultation, and secondly without good reason."
April 11, 2003 09:30
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