A TRAIN company which runs a major express route through East Lancashire has been fined £2 million for its poor performance.

The money will be deducted from Arriva Trains Northern's franchise payments from the government's Strategic Rail Authority (SRA).

The company was fined after it failed to meet driver recruitment targets last year, which led to the sporadic cancellation of train services, including the TransPennine Express, which passes through Preston, Blackburn, Accrington and Burnley, before going to Leeds and Scarborough.

And Arriva has been warned it could be fined £5,000 each month in the future for every driver vacancy where a recruitment target is not met.

Gary Backler, the SRA's executive director for regional networks, said Arriva had improved since last year, but that the fine would 'keep management's mind focused'

This is the latest problem for the company, which is currently in a dispute with conductors over pay. The next strike is on Thursday.

Mr Backler said: "It is clear the company did not anticipate and plan for the driver shortages.

"Arriva Trains Northern, has made significant steps towards rectifying the situation."

A spokesman from Arriva plc said they noted the fine, and were happy the SRA had recognised steps taken to improve the problem.