AN engineering operation which should see East Lancashire train services get back on track is beginning this week.

Up and down the East Lancashire line, stretching from Pleasington to Colne, there are currently temporary speed restrictions, slowing down the 'stopper' and mainline services.

But work is ongoing for the next two weeks in and around Rosegrove station, near Burnley, to tackle the first such hold-up.

Rail bosses hope that the improvements will ensure that Northern Rail train services - serving no fewer than 16 stations - can stick more rigidly to the timetable.

Work is expected to take place on the tracks around Blackburn and Huncoat stations this Christmas.

Next March should see similar operations carried out near Gannow junction, just past Rosegrove station, where train services can travel onwards to Colne or the Yorkshire border.

The same month should see another engineering operation at Church with Oswaldtwistle station.

Network Rail spokesman Keith Lumley said the restrictions - some 20mph and others 30mph - had been in place for between a year and 18 months.

"The speed restrictions are impacting on the current timetable - basically because they are slowing down people's train journeys," he said.

"The trains have been running late so by getting rid of these speed restrictions we can get trains back up to their normal operating levels.

"There are four different lots of work which are still set to take place, including Blackburn, Huncoat, Gannow junction and Church stations."

The current works, along the Burnley stretch of the line, has seen the Colne service terminate at Blackburn, with replacement bus services laid on for travellers.

Improved rail services are seen as a vital tool in the regeneration of vast swathes of East Lancashire.

MPs Jack Straw, Greg Pope and Janet Anderson have pledged to fight on in their battle to secure improved services between East Lancashire and Manchester, via Blackburn and Darwen.

And council leaders in Burnley are continuing to press for improvements which would see a faster service to Manchester from the borough.

Travellers currently have to commute to Manchester either by the slow service through Blackburn to Manchester Victoria or by changing at Hebden Bridge.

Rail campaigners say that if the Todmorden Curve - a redundant stretch of track just over the Yorkshire border - was reinstated then journey times of around 38 minutes could be easily achieved.