REGIONAL transport bosses have promised to fight for the rights of East Lancashire railway users amid uncertainty over the future of services.

Earlier this month the government signalled that the current Northern Rail franchise due to last until March 2025 ‘will only be able to continue for a number of months’.

After a recent meeting of local authority leaders across the region with Transport for the North, Blackburn with Darwen Council regeneration boss and TfN board member Cllr Phil Riley said: “We intend to fight our corner and make our voice heard on this. Passengers need to be put first and any replacements need to have this at the forefront.

“There is always the risk of smaller towns or areas getting lost in the mix when these sort of plans are being made, and we are absolutely determined to be fully included in any decisions being made and get our views across. Cities always seem to take the lead on issues like this but we desperately need rail investment in this part of the country and we are no less important.”