An MP has spoken about improvements which are needed on the railway system in Hyndburn and Rossendale.

On Thursday, April 20, Sara Britcliffe, the Member of Parliament for Hyndburn and Haslingden, spoke in the Department for Transport questions and raised the need for improvements at Church and Oswaldtwistle railway station, Rishton railway station and the re-opening of the Rawtenstall to Manchester railway line.

Railways minister Huw Merriman confirmed that both stations mentioned by the Hyndburn MP were currently under assessment by the Department for Transport, with an announcement to be made in due course.

Accrington railway station has already been one of the beneficiaries of the Access for All Scheme, while Ms Britcliffe also touched on Lancashire County Council’s successful £50million bid to level up East Lancashire, focusing on travel improvements, as well as Lancashire’s £34.2 million Bus Service Improvement Plan announced in 2022.

In the debate, Ms Britcliffe said: “We have some vital projects going on across the north and in Hyndburn and Haslingden, such as the improvements at Accrington rail station.

"Lancashire County Council’s levelling-up fund bid, which—apologies, Mr Speaker—is focused solely on East Lancashire; and the bus service improvement plan.

“But other schemes are needed, such as Access for All at Oswaldtwistle and Church, work at Rishton station and the reopening of the Rawtenstall-to-Manchester line.

“Will the Minister meet me to discuss those projects? Will he visit Hyndburn and Haslingden to see why they are desperately needed?”

In response, Huw Merriman MP said: “I should be delighted to visit. Taking a leaf out of Michael Portillo’s book, I am hoping to do my own great British railway journeys over the summer.

“I very much hope to meet my honourable friend while doing so.

“Since 2006, Access for All has delivered step-free access to 220 stations.

“The programme has been a great success, and I am pleased to say that the stations that my honourable friend mentions are within the portfolio of the 300 stations that we are currently assessing.”