Blackburn with Darwen Council's political leader has backed a call for Avanti West Coast to scrap first class seats in a bid to reduce festive holiday overcrowding on main line trains to London.

Cllr Phil Riley spoke out after a recent meeting of Transport for the North (TfN) of which he is a board member.

The gathering was given the latest figures outlining the level of cancellations by Avanti West Coast.

At the meeting, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham updated other leaders that over the course of the week, Avanti had been operating at a reliability of 52 per cent.

He said over a quarter of trains have been delayed, severely delayed, or cancelled.

The TfN board agreed to write to the Transport Secretary Mark Harper about the ‘inadequate’ and ‘unacceptable’ level of service, claiming the number of cancellations is ‘too high’.

The Board also agreed to issue statutory advice – which means the Cabinet Minister must take note – calling for the declassification of first-class carriages with ‘immediate effect’ due to the high demand during the festive period.

Many in the North West travel to London in the weeks prior to Christmas to shop, attend festive events, visit family or to see displays, relying on the rail network to get there and back.

Cllr Riley said: "At the meeting, Mayor Burnham gave some horrific figures about cancellations and delays.

"With Christmas around the corner, it’s not fair that people cannot rely on their local train service.

"I also raised questions about overcrowding.

"It’s great more people are using the trains but many people will be put off by the experience if they are all standing and crammed into central corridors and doorways.

"It’s simply not acceptable and it is the job of the train operators to do better.

"I fully support TfN issuing statutory advice to the Secretary of State – which must be heeded – to take the appropriate action and tackle this substandard performance."