Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Collins says he has secured important assurances from Secretary of State for Transport Alistair Darling on next month's major upgrade to the West Coast Main Line.
During Parliamentary Transport Questions Mr Collins referred to a number of local businesses concerned about the economic impact of the forthcoming suspension of services on the line while upgrade work is done.
Mr Collins, Shadow Transport Secretary, said: "I sought and got an assurance from the Transport Secretary that he would take an active interest in the replacement bus service for rail passengers travelling to and from Cumbria on the West Coast Main Line while working is being carried out. Alistair Darling said he would review this service and upgrade it if problems arose.
"The Transport Secretary also gave me an assurance that the new Pendolino trains would be introduced north of Manchester as soon as tests are completed and that he would seek to do what he could to ensure the process was completed as soon as
possible."
April 9, 2003 10:31
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