FURIOUS councillors are to report a train company to a new national rail watchdog after a spate of cancellations and late trains on the notorious Blackburn to Manchester service.

The 8.36am to Manchester Victoria has been cancelled on several occasions in recent months, stranding people who commute to work in Bolton or Manchester.

Among those who have suffered are Blackburn with Darwen Council highways and transport committee chairman Coun Ashley Whalley and his deputy Coun Michael Barrett.

Coun Whalley said several meetings had been held with operator First North Western about cancellations and delays on the line and the company had promised things would be done.

Coun Barrett added: "We should go to the newly formed Strategic Rail Authority about this and see if we get anywhere. "Just recently there have been a lot of cancellations again on this service and it is simply not good enough. People rely on this train to get to work. And what about people who have a connection to make to get to London? They are stranded if they miss their train south.

"Of course, this service was the notorious 8.20am train which always seemed to be cancelled under the old timetable.

"Services have generally improved on the line, but from a very low base line in the first place."

A First North Western spokesman said the 8.36am service had been cancelled twice and had been late once since the start of the year.

He added: "This does not amount to a spate of cancellations as has been claimed."

Spokesman for the Blackburn to Bolton Line Rail User Group, Bob Hayes, said: "I wouldn't argue the figures with First North Western about that service but there has definitely been a nosedive in punctuality in recent months.

"Another problem has been the use of single carriage trains which encourages overcrowding and means station stops take much longer with fewer doors for people to get off. It all affects punctuality."

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