TRAIN passengers claim plans to change the times of early morning trains between Morecambe and Lancaster will force more workers onto the roads.
The existing Monday to Friday two-carriage services from Morecambe to Lancaster at 8.05am and 8.33am – which commuters claim are already overcrowded – are being replaced by trains at 8.11am and 8.51am.
Passengers say people starting work at 9am wi
ll have no choice but to get the earlier train if they want to get to work on time. The changes are part of a timetable overhaul by Northern Rail from December 14.
The company says more than half of its 2,500 services have been affected by changes to the West Coast Main Line to allow more long-distance services.
Bryan Wood, of Balmoral Road, Morecambe, who normally catches the 8.33am to arrive at work at Design Direct in Penny Street, says it is usually standing room only when the train reaches Bare Lane station.
Mr Wood said he would have to get the new 8.11am service.
"The journey usually takes around 10 minutes so if people got the later train, they would be late for work," he said.
"One train will now be carrying two train loads of people – can you imagine how crowded this will be?
"It will force people back into their cars, making the roads more crowded and causing more delays."
Mr Wood has written to Northern Rail, Lancaster City Council leader Coun Roger Mace and council cabinet member Coun Jon Barry to express his concerns.
Northern Rail spokeswoman, Carolyn Watson said a larger two-carriage train would be used for the 8.11am service because of the route's popularity.
Mike Machin, chairman of Lancaster and Morecambe Rail Users Group, said: "It's local journeys that are suffering and I don't know if this larger unit will be enough.
"We are fighting this and we are hoping for an improved service when the summer timetable begins next May."
