Rail replacement bus disruption 'unacceptable'

Rail replacement bus services have been unreliable, according to MP Josh MacAlister

Calls have been made to address "unacceptable" issues with a rail replacement service that has left passengers stranded.

Northern is running buses instead of trains between Workington and Sellafield in West Cumbria after a survey found issues with the tunnel floor at Bransty.

The buses cannot run through Braystones and Nethertown, Northern said, leaving the villages without a service and other passengers complaining about missing and delayed buses.

Josh MacAlister, Labour MP for Whitehaven and Workington, wrote to Northern asking it to address the issues quickly. A spokesperson for Northern and Network Rail apologised, saying: "We understand how frustrating this disruption is."

MacAlister's letter said: "I have had reports of some buses not turning up, others severely delayed, some not stopping at scheduled stations, leaving people stranded."

He added some drivers were allowing dogs, while others were not, causing confusion for passengers.

MacAlister said: "The confusion and disruption is unacceptable, especially as this is going to continue for most of the year."

'Urgent changes needed'

Northern said it planned to run replacement buses between Sellafield and Workington until 10 August.

From 11 August, the buses would run between the nuclear site and Whitehaven.

Northern and Network Rail said: "From Monday, trains will run to Whitehaven on the northern side of the tunnel, and we are looking at the options available to be able to run trains to Corkickle on the other side."

But MacAlister said he had been told by "experienced engineers" there was no reason for such a large railway closure and he wanted to see just the section between Whitehaven and Corkickle closed, with buses running between the stations.

Contaminated water has been running through a tunnel at Bransty and discharging into the harbour in Whitehaven

He asked the rail firm to give its "urgent attention" to implementing changes so that buses are only needed for the shorter route, meaning Braystones and Nethertown would no longer be "isolated".

Network Rail carried out survey work last week, ahead of a planned three-week closure from 30 August to replace tracks and carry out drainage works.

Part of the line had been affected by contaminated water flowing from abandoned mines through Bransty railway tunnel and discharging into the harbour at Whitehaven, causing the water to turn orange.

During the survey engineers discovered further repairs to the tunnel floor were needed.

Network Rail said this would likely mean a delay to the planned work.