A CONSTRUCTION worker has launched a campaign for a new crack-of-dawn train to help a town’s workers dependent on public transport get to early morning shifts in Manchester.

Sam McIntyre, 62, from Greenfield Street in Darwen, spends £35 a day on taxis and buses to start work at 7.30am on building sites around the city.

He has already recruited the town’s MP Jake Berry and two of its councillors - one Labour and one Conservative - to support his efforts.

Now train operator Northern are considering introducing the service in the longer term and starting a ‘rail replacement’ bus service in the interim.

Mr McIntyre, unable to drive since an insect in his eye in March 2016 affected his sight, says the current first train from Darwen at 6.27am arrives in Manchester too late at 7.07am for workers with an early start.

Northern Powerhouse Minister Mr Berry and Darwen South Tory councillor Kevin Connor have already held a meeting between Mr McIntyre and Northern timetable planners.

Darwen West Labour councillor Dave Smith is backing the campaign.

Mr McIntyre said: “The current first train is too late for workers like me who cannot drive and do early shifts.

“I work on building sites all over Greater Manchester and 7.07am is too late to start my shift on time.

“It’s not just building workers but lots of other people who need to be in work early.

“This is not about me but about helping people from Darwen get to work in the early morning.

“We need a train 30 to 45 minutes earlier.

“I spend £35 a day on taxis and other transport to get to work when I’m on site in Manchester.

“Many people cannot afford that.”

Cllr Connor said: “We organised a meeting between Mr McIntyre and Northern timetable planners.

“He has highlighted a real issue about Darwen people getting to work early.

“We are hoping Northern can identify a demand and put on an early train.”

Mr Berry said: “This is an important issue. I am hoping we can find a way forward so people in Darwen needing to get to work for very early shifts in the Manchester area can do so.”

A Northern spokesperson said: “Northern is looking at the opportunity to build into the timetable an earlier service to support local employability.

“It is a long-term plan and needs to be done in conjunction with Network Rail. In the meantime we are speaking to our colleagues at Arriva buses to see if a service could be introduced.”

Mr McIntyre said: “This is welcome news."

Now we just need to see what actually happens.”

Cllr Smith said: “I fully support Mr McIntyre, Mr Berry and Cllr Connor in this campaign.”