NORTHERN has given details of the new and refurbished trains it will be running on the East Lancashire Line.

The Preston to Colne line via Blackburn and Burnley could see a mix of brand new diesel units built by CAF in Spain and completely revamped Class 156 rolling stock now running on the Leeds to Manchester route.

The news has been welcomed by Pendle Peer Tony Greaves and Blackburn with Darwen regeneration boss Phil Riley.

They will replace existing rolling stock, including the much-derided 30-year-old Pacer trains, by 2019 at a cost well in excess of £600million.

There had been suggestions in 2015 that the new trains could be refurbished London Underground trains refitted with diesel engines.

Liam Sumpter, Regional Director for Northern, said the new CAF diesel stock and refurbished 156 units from elsewhere on the Northern network will be stabled at Blackburn’s new £28million depot at ‘The Wrangling’ and used on local routes.

He said:“These are really exciting times for our customers in Lancashire.

“We are investing millions of pounds into the railway and are in the process of building 98 new trains.

“We are also refurbishing our current fleet to ‘as new’ standard, featuring all the modern facilities our customers expect.

“The refurbished trains are already starting to appear on the network and our first new trains should arrive by 2019.

“We are currently working through the details of the routes for our new and refurbished trains, but wherever you travel in Lancashire you will have a bright, airy, modern train fit for the 21st Century.”

Lord Greaves said: “Even the refurbished 156 units are a vast improvement on the current rolling stock.

“I would to see the brand new trains on the Preston to Colne line.”

Cllr Riley said: “This is good news and I hope to see the modern CAF stock on the East Lancashire Line.”

The total investment in the 98 brand new diesel and electric trains is £580 million and refurbishing existing rolling stock runs into the tens of millions.

The firm is also taking a floor of the new One Cathedral Square office block in Blackburn town centre to house 100 train crew.