RAIL users in East Lancashire have blasted train operators for holding a public relations exercise to find out what customers want of their services - in Preston.

Passengers from the area said they had plenty to complain to First North Western about, but couldn't be expected to go 20 miles out of their way to Preston for yesterday's meeting.

First North Western have come in for fierce criticism from rail users groups in East Lancashire representing railway lines between Colne, Clitheroe, Blackburn and Bolton.

The line between Bolton and Blackburn, with trains running on to Clitheroe, have come under particular fire, with the official figures proving the service is one of the worst in the country for delays and cancellations.

Peter Brass, of the Friends of the Blackburn to Hellifield line group, said: "What on earth is the point of holding a meeting on a crowded platform on a main line station?

"How on earth can people be expected to get their point across, even if they can make it to Preston?" Derick Harrison, of the Save the East Lancashire Line Association, which represents passengers who travel between Blackburn, Accrington, Burnley, Nelson and Colne, said: "What a ridiculous stunt to pull. It sounds to me like they don't want anybody there.

"It really is crazy. They are holding this meeting at 4.30pm right in the middle of commuter time on a main line station.

"And how are people from places like Nelson and Colne supposed to get there to put their views? It's more than an hour's ride away."

Coun Ashley Whalley, chairman of Blackburn with Darwen Council's highways and transport committee said: "This sounds typical. It shows the detachment of the management to passengers and the reality of every day train running, and it sounds like somebody has had a bright idea to hold a public relations exercise without having given any thought to it."

A spokesman for First North Western said: "The event ran on until 7pm so it went beyond the commuter time."

He added that a similar event was planned for Blackburn, but was not likely to take place until January.

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