Robert Talbot, chairman of the Lakes Line Rail User Group, argues it is vital that people speak up for rail services in this area

The nationalised railway was just a two-tier structure - the then Department of Transport and British Rail(ways). Now there are umpteen layers where the opportunity for buck-passing is legion.

These include: Transport for the North; Rail North; Network Rail, owner of track and stations; 25 Train Operating Companies; the transport organisations of the North’s five conurbations (for example, Transport for Greater Manchester); three rolling stock companies (owned basically by finance houses); numerous maintenance and cleaning contracts. This is by no means the complete list.

Three of us in the Lakes Line Rail User Group attended eight meetings across the North in the early part of the year in order to gather information about the new rail order in the region. We were attempting to get to the bottom of how rail transport is going to be organised.

We are little the wiser – yet. Our rail services in South Lakeland are under pressure from a number of major changes in the near future. Many will know about some of the issues, but here is some background to the current scene.

From April 1 a switch in provider of the Oxenholme to Windermere (the Lakes Line) services from TransPennine Express to Arriva Rail North; from the same date, three operating companies at Oxenholme, with the greater potential for missed connections; at some point during the summer timetable (noted from the slower timing information available on the internet) our trains will be 25 years old, when for the last 25 the average age has been a maximum of just five.

These trains will be: slower; have less capacity; have fewer and narrower doors, thus taking longer to board/offload; have no 1st Class; be in generally poorer condition.

Presently the last train with good connections for Windermere leaves central Manchester at 20:45. From the May timetable change, the last possible service with just one change or reasonable waiting time will be at 18:15 from Manchester. Clearly this lack of connectivity with our regional capital is unacceptable.

This new timetable sees the total loss of Manchester – Windermere through trains Monday to Friday. Also there will be poorer connections at Oxenholme because of the slower acceleration of the old diesel trains. This becomes a significant factor because of the loss of through services.

There are other issues such as the unattractive three-hour gaps between trains serving Oxenholme from London and to Birmingham, and the very late start in services to Manchester and London on Sundays. Bidding for the new InterCity West Coast Franchise process is due to commence soon, with the uncertainty which this brings.

The above is not a complete list of issues, but with this catalogue it is vitally important that we have a seat at the top table, especially as Cumbria will be sharing its representation with Lancashire.

Yes, we have many issues which overlap, but Lancashire has its own problems, so its primary focus is bound to be there, and on the Furness Line, the first three stations – Lancaster, Carnforth and Silverdale - are in that county, and it has historical affinity with Grange, Ulverston, Dalton and Barrow.

It is also vitally important that our line is electrified in order to access state of the art rolling stock and through services which we deserve and tourists expect. The date originally promised – December 2017 - appears to have slipped back to 2020 at the earliest.

I end with this thought. The Lakes Line Community Rail Partnership and our Rail User Group need the support of South Lakeland residents, businesses, the tourism industry and councils in campaigning for a halt to deteriorating rail services, and instead to seek improvements.

Happy rail journeys!