DOZENS of commuters were left stranded again at stations in Pendle after early-morning train problems elsewhere in Lancashire.

Rail bosses have apologised after the main breakfast-time service from Colne was cancelled without warning.

The 7.50am train was postponed for travellers from Colne, Nelson and Brierfield after the service was terminated by Northern Rail at Burnley Central station. Rail passenger Eric Jebson said: “This isn’t the first time this has happened — it always seems to happen where Nelson and Colne are concerned.”

A Northern Rail spokesman said that there had been difficulties in coupling train units at their Blackpool depot earlier that day. This problem had a ‘knock-on effect’ with other services, leading to a decision by track controllers to terminate the service early, in an attempt to recover the original timetabled services.

Part of the problem was caused by the fact that the line between Burnley Central and Colne was a single track, which would have led to further complications later in the day.

Train services returned to normal later in the morning. The train operator also cancelled a Friday night service out of Colne and passengers were told that it was because of a lack of available crew.

Train services between Manchester Victoria and Blackbun were also seriously affected last Thursday, leaving many commuters stranded or looking for alternative transport because of frozen points outside Salford Crescent station.