THE fight for better rail services for Cumbrian travellers was taken all the way to Number 10 Downing Street.

A petition launched to protest against the diabolical rail services across Cumbria was taken to the heart of the British government by Tim Farron, MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale, the Lakes Line rail users group and the News and Star's Jonathan Rees.

The petition backed by the News and Star calls for an end to Northern’s grip on the county’s rail franchise after passengers said "Enough was enough" when all trains were cancelled on the Lakes Line and replaced with buses.

After a few short weeks, and following the reinstatement of services on the Lakes Line between Windermere and Oxenholme by heritage rail operator West Coast Railways, more than 4,544 signatures were collected.

South Lakes MP Tim Farron said the shear number of signatures was a tangible representation of years of frustration felt by rail users who will no longer tolerate paying first class prices for a third class service.

Mr Farron joined by reporter Jonathan Rees and other stakeholders in the fight for a reliable rail service have now delivered this petition to Number 10 Downing Street sending a clear message "our voices shall and will be heard|".

After delivering the petition to the clerk of Number 10, Mr Farron said: “I’m really proud of of the response of local people that have fought very very hard to get a better more reliable rail service for our community.

"Northern have massively let down local travellers.

“We feel we have achieved something significant and that the government needs to act swiftly to take the Furness and Lakes Line of Northern and run it directly.”

At the beginning of June the News and Star launched a campaign, Get Our Railways Back On Track, calling for action by the government to dramatically and swiftly improve the train services bring offered to the people of Cumbria.

We have advocated for a new franchise operator to be found following the chaotic yet avoidable implementation of a new timetable by operator Northern.

Chris Story, editor of the News and Star, said: “We have and will always be the strongest advocate for the issues which affect not just our readers but everyone living in south Cumbria.

"The recent chaos on our railways has exposed just how deeply the frustration in our area runs as day after day, month after month and year after year rail customers’ concerns go unaddressed by those with the power to change.

“We did not take the decision to back this petition and start our campaign lightly and are under no illusion there is a quick fix to the problems at hand.

"But, we strongly feel if we were to let this latest disruption pass without taking a stand it would only reinforce the perception Cumbria’s residents can be taken for a ride.”

Mr Farron’s petition was launched following the shocking announcement by Northern at the beginning of June that all services on the Lakes Line from Windermere to Oxenholme would be cancelled and replaced with bus services. Insult to injury was piled on when this two week cancellation was extended, lasting until July 1.

There was outcry amongst those who depend on the Lakes Line for work, school and tourism. When the cancellation was announced the busiest part of the year for the Lake District tourist industry, worth hundreds of millions of pounds a year, was about to begin.

Fortunately heritage rail operator West Coast Railways out themselves forward to run a shuttle service free of charge for the duration of Northern’s Lakes Line suspension.

As well as a petition Mr Farron also held a protest walk to show the strength of feeling about the issue across the county.

Next week Northern will resume a service, albeit reduced on the Lakes Line. In spite of the campaign launched against them Mr Farron is hopeful they will be able to deliver a reliable service.

He said: “The reality is that there are lots of things that they have done wrong. Some things were not their fault - they took over the franchise with the understanding it would be running electric trains and then the government went back on its word to electrify the Lakes Line.

“The prime culprit is the government awarding the franchise to the wrong people and cancelling electrification.

“We have shown you can run a reliable rail service so Northern better be on form.”