AN East Lancashire MP has written to the Department for Transport about the ‘ongoing fiasco’ surrounding the lack of trains for the Todmorden Curve.

Graham Jones, who represents Hyndburn with Haslingden, told Stephen Hammond there was ‘deep frustration’ about the delays.

He said in the letter: “I must register once again the deep frustration across East Lancashire, and among a great number of my constituents, that the opening of this line has been delayed for the farcical reason that there are no trains to serve it.”

He suggested the department consider the possibility of moving the diesel rolling stock from the Settle to Carlisle line onto the Todmorden curve, and then replacing those trains with Mark II carriages.