CUTS in rail services will bring chaos to Lancashire and the North West, Lancashire County Council leader Louise Ellman warned today.

Plans for privatisation reveal serious service reductions, says Mrs Ellman.

And she pledged: "We intend to stand up for the passengers and demand nothing less than current service levels.

"People are rightly fed up with being ripped off to make someone a fast buck."

A draft report about Cross Country Trains indicates only two-thirds of the current number of trains would call at Lancaster.

Services to Preston could be reduced and the only remaining InterCity service between Blackpool and Birmingham could be axed.

"It is appalling that the Government has decided to speed up the franchise process and complete it by Spring 1997, instead of 1999 as originally intended," stormed Mrs Ellman. "This rush to privatisation is at the cost of service to the public.

"The proposed levels of service after privatisation mean 20 per cent of services currently run through Lancashire by Cross Country Trains are at risk.

"This would mean unacceptable reductions in service.

"The proposed service requirements have three serious omissions.

"Services between Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Airport. Currently three services are provided to the airport from Preston and Lancaster.

"The daily service between Edinburgh and Liverpool Lime Street.

"The daily service from Blackpool North to Birmingham New Street has not been specified between Blackpool and Preston."

The county council and other local authorities will meet later this month with the Office of Passenger Rail Franchising.

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