Transport bosses are coming under ‘increasing pressure’ to step in and get a train service running between Accrington and Manchester.

Hyndburn MP Graham Jones said the Department for Transport are aware of the Observer campaign and are ‘trying to get a train on line before December’.

Mr Jones said: “I have spoken with Stephen Hammond, who is the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport, and I have asked him if we can find one single train to even run a limited service.

“Obviously when the service is fully running it will need at least three trains.

“I told Stephen about the better job prospects in Manchester and what it will mean to the people of Accrington to have a better access.

“When I put all this to Stephen he said he was trying to get a train on the line before December. My impression is that the Department for Transport are feeling under pressure to act.

“In addition to meeting with Stephen I will also be having a meeting with Northern Rail in the next few months to discuss this issue.”

Our ‘Get Us Back On Track’ campaign has also received support from one of the longest established transport campaigning groups in the UK. The Campaign for Better Transport said it will be working to pressure the DfT on the issue of rolling stock.

Martin Abrams, Public Transport Campaigner, Campaign for Better Transport, said: “It’s farcical to spend nearly £9m tackling this infamous missing link without sorting out the trains to run on it. Government needs to broker a solution quickly so the new line can begin helping revive the local economy.

“The situation with the Todmorden Curve highlights why we need a proper national rolling stock strategy to grow the railways and make sure people get convenient services and modern trains.”

You can sign our petition by visiting our Market Hall office or Graham Jones’ office.