THE Transport Secretary has been accused of 'running scared' after pulling out of meeting Northern Rail workers and passengers at the last minute.

Protests were held outside the Hilton Manchester by members of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) following Chris Grayling's late decision not to meet with transport leaders for the Northern Transport Summit today.

The Secretary of State for Transport was due to meet with chief executives of Transport for the North, Lancashire County Council along with Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham.

However Mr Grayling pulled out of the visit at the eleventh hour because it clashed with a House of Commons vote on a proposed expansion of Heathrow.

The last minute no show was met with angry protests following weeks of rail chaos, delays and cancellations across the North.

?RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said: “Chris Grayling is running scared. He’s scared of the passengers he’s hung out to dry and he’s scared of the staff whose safety-critical jobs his franchise shambles have left facing the axe.

“Chris Grayling may have chickened out of meeting RMT members and their supporters but I've got a message for him - you can run but you can't hide.”