A CAMPAIGN group has criticised the Government after it announced no new schemes to improve to East Lancashire's infrastructure in plans to transform the nation's railways.

The Government has announced £15billion plans to improve stations, increase capacity, and alleviate bottlenecks which slow services down between 2009 and 2014.

Extra carriages could be supplied on services running on the Trans-Pennine route which has services stopping at Blackburn, Burnley and Accrington.

The proposals are to allow 30 per cent more passengers to travel on the route but it is not yet known which services will get the extra carriages.

Capacity on commuter services between Manchester and Liverpool and Manchester and Leeds is to increase and journey times will be quicker Bolton and Chester train stations are set to be improved as part of the scheme which are the findings of a Government white paper.

However, no cash will be spent on improving stations or speeding up services in East Lancashire despite regeneration chiefs in Blackburn and Burnley announcing plans for other major projects.

Blackburn with Darwen Council has applied to the Department of Transport and Network Rail for £8million to upgrade the route to Manchester.

The project would include a mile-long section of double track which would allow half hourly services to run.

Burnley also wants to build new stations to replace Manchester Road and the Central stations as well as re-instate the Todmorden Curve which would allow direct services to Manchester.

Alan Benson, secretary of rail group STELLA (Support the East Lancashire Line Association) welcomed the increased carriages but said more needed to be done to improve the area's rail links.

He said: "The Government and rail companies have been saying for years more needs to be done.

"They have done bits but they need to improve things.

"They could have helped to improve the Blackburn to Manchester service and the Colne to Blackpool line which would have made it easier for connections at Preston."