EAST Lancashire's rail network has once again hit the headlines after complaints began to flood in about over-pricing, reliability of services and the state of local railway stations. But are things as bad as people make out? DAVID HIGGERSON reports...

IT'S almost fashionable to complain about the state of the rail network.

But in East Lancashire, commuters who groan may well have a point.

Stations which aren't up to standard, trains past their sell-by date and first class tickets sold for services which don't even have the 'upper class' are all grievances raised by commuters in East Lancashire to the Rail Passenger Committee, which fights for rail users in the hope of them getting a better deal.

But is it all doom and gloom? First Group, the firm which took over the running of the Transpennine franchise at the beginning of February, argue things are getting better.

They now run the Blackpool North to York service, which calls at Blackburn, Accrington and Burnley and is, in essence, East Lancashire's only 'express service' - even though it averages just 39mph across its whole journey, according to findings presented to the House of Commons last year.

First Group, which runs the area's other services through its First Northern Western subsidiary, is spending £250million on a fleet of new trains for its cross-country franchise. It could mean an increase in the number of seats available on the Transpennine service, because each train would have one more carriage.

First chief executive Moir Lockhead said: "Passengers will notice an advance in comfort and reliability when the new trains enter the service. This is a key part of our commitment to improve quality and attract more people to rail."

But while the future appears bright for the Transpennine Express, which was repeatedly criticised when operated by Arriva for poor punctuality, there are plenty of other things to leave people grumbling.

Two weeks ago, the Lancashire Evening Telegraph revealed how the £6m redevelopment of Blackburn Station left passengers standing in the cold on platform four.

The platform was only supposed to be used in an emergency when other platforms, covered by a dome, were out of use. But First North Western have begun using it regularly to help keep their trains running on time.

Then, earlier this week, it was revealed Virgin Trains was to be subjected to an investigation by Trading Standards into the fact it was selling first class tickets from stations across East Lancashire to the destinations it stops at on the West Coast Mainline, even though there is no such thing as first class in East Lancashire. The fare for travelling from Blackburn to Preston in standard class is £4.05, but to travel from Blackburn to Carlisle is £50 more than if the the journey started at Preston.

Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans said: "The people of East Lancashire are being short-changed. Services don't run on time, people are charged too much and some of the stations are appalling. Even the refurbished ones, like Blackburn, aren't the complete job."

Richard Watts, from Lancashire County Council's transport department, says a lot of plans are afoot to improve the quality of station in East Lancashire.

He points to the pending redevelopment of Burnley Central Station - used by the local Colne to Blackpool South service which stops at every station on the East Lancashire line - and the introduction of new shelters at Church and Oswaldtwistle, which could be rolled out across the area.

On the issue of reliability, Mr Watts said: "There is an issue on the Clitheroe to Manchester line caused by the fact that on part of the line between Bolton and Darwen there isn't a passing point, so if one train is late, it can hold another up. We are currently looking at seeing what we can do to improve that, by working on a bid to the Strategic Rail Authority for funding to improve that line."

A bid for financial assistance to increase services into Clitheroe later in the evening is also subject to SRA approval.

Despite the problems, David Butterworth, from the Rail Passengers Committee and a Clitheroe resident, believes there are positives to be had. He said: "There is a lot of negativity surrounding people's attitudes to the railway industry which is unfair at times. There are things to be positive about.

"Look at the Blackburn to Clitheroe line. A decade ago, we didn't have it. When things come up, we tackle the train companies about them, like the Virgin fares.

"Another thing we need to press them about is what they are going to do to prevent leaves on the line being a problem this autumn.

"And we will be pressing for action on Blackburn's railway station because the situation isn't perfect.

"We should push to make sure the lessons are learnt. The rail service isn't as bad as everyone likes to think."