NORTHERN Rail has been bombarded with complaints as its train replacement from Blackburn to Manchester was launched.

Commuters, including those from Darwen and Entwistle, are using buses while work is carried out on the line.

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The work started last Friday and runs until Monday, August 24, with rail users furious at the arrangements.

Across the region there have been cancelled trains due to a lack of crews, faults, broken down trains and late services.

But commuters were most angry about the replacement bus services, with Danny Middleton questioning whether they even met health and safety standards, with his coach lacking seatbelts.

Danny, who was on the 7am bus from Darwen to Bolton to catch a train to his job with Manchester Libraries service, said: “There was about 10 people who stood for the whole journey.”

Northern Rail said it had passed the information on to its bus co-ordinators.

They thanked another angry commuter for feedback and apologised for the inconvenience after the service was caught in hold ups.

Graphic designer Neil Ramsbottom, from Accrington, claimed the buses at 8.05am had taken three different routes in three days.

He said: “For some reason we’ve taken three different routes in three days... today’s route was crazy as is the double decker for 12 people.”

A Northern Rail spokesman said: “Throughout the line upgrade between Blackburn and Bolton, we have sufficient stand-by buses in place to help cope with busy periods.

“Bus co-ordinators are on hand at stations to advise customers.”