By Julian Whittle

Published at 11:35, Monday, 04 February 2013

Major improvements to train services between Cumbria and Manchester are coming next year.

Rail company First TransPennine Express is beefing up its service between Central Scotland and Manchester Airport with the introduction of a new fleet of electric trains in May 2014.

There are currently 18 services a day a weekday. This will rise to 25.

New early-morning services will allow passengers from Cumbria to reach Glasgow and Edinburgh before 9am.

At present the first train to Edinburgh gets in at 9.22am and the first service to Glasgow at 9.14am.

The new trains will have four carriages and 210 seats – 19 in first class – and be capable of speeds up to 110mph.

There will be an hourly service from Glasgow or Edinburgh through Carlisle to Manchester Airport with most trains made up of two four-car sets, providing eight coaches and 420 seats.

Many, but not all, will call at Penrith.

The announcement follows intense lobbying by Dumfriesshire MP David Mundell who called for more trains to stop at Lockerbie, including early-morning commuter services. He also raised concerns about over crowding.

Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk