ALMOST 60 per cent of trains using the Mid Cheshire line were late over the past five months.

The shocking figures were revealed by Cllr Andrew Cooper, member for Bridge ward, during a full meeting of Northwich Town Council on Monday.    

The figures – obtained during a meeting with the Mid Cheshire Community Rail Partnership – reveal that since April, only 40.6 per cent of trains using the line were on time.

A total of 2,593 minutes were lost due to the condition of the track, 2,295 due to track defects, 1,110 due to agreed exclusion, 791 due to the condition of an asset and 533 due to track circuit failure.

Cllr Cooper said the number of freight trains using the line was having a ‘serious detrimental effect on the rail infrastructure’.

He questioned whether Network Rail’s planned timetable changes in April 2018 – which will see two trains per hour destined for Manchester Piccadilly – would be ‘workable’.

The Labour councillor has called on Mike Amesbury, MP for Weaver Vale, and Esther McVey, MP for Tatton, to put pressure on Network Rail.

Cllr Cooper said: “Between the two of them, Network Rail should be feeling the heat on this and sort their act out because the lateness is obviously unacceptable, but the broad concern for me is what happens with that track with the increase of usage?

“Are two trains an hour going to be workable with an infrastructure that’s failing?

“I would suggest that perhaps it isn’t.”

Mr Amesbury said he had already written to Mark Carne, chief executive of Network Rail, to seek reassurances that the infrastructure would be up to the appropriate standards when new services started.

He has also asked the rail chief to investigate the issue of train delays in Mid Cheshire due to apparent problems with the track.

Mr Amesbury said: “Not only must the condition of the lines not hinder current services, they must also not undermine much-needed new services either.

“Passengers nationally are being asked to pay ever increasing amounts for their train tickets and the very least they should be able to expect is a reliable service that runs on time and an infrastructure that is fit for purpose.

“I have sought reassurances from Network Rail and will continue to liaise with Cllr Cooper and other interested parties to ensure this is the case.”

A Network Rail spokesman said: “We are aware of the current challenges on the Mid Cheshire line and are working with rain and freight operators to improve performance.

“New timetables are introduced twice a year on the rail network across the country.

“Additional trains being introduced in the new timetable will provide passengers with a better service and help boost the local economy.”

Northern told the Guardian it was aware of ‘performance issues’ on the Mid Cheshire line and was working with Network Rail to address some of the problems.

Liam Sumpter, regional director at Northern, said: “The line is heavily used by freight carriers and, as a result, the track is subject to a number of line speed restrictions which slow trains down.

“We have worked with Network Rail to have some of these lifted already but it’s an ongoing challenge and we will continue to work with their engineers to develop further solutions.”

He said: “We are also in the early stages of an ambitious modernisation programme which will see better trains and improved facilities on the Mid Cheshire Line.

“We are currently finalising plans to increase the number of services in the area and expect to have these in place by the middle of 2018.”