AN MP has written to train bosses urging them to look at changing rail contracts which are said to be leaving commuters in south Cumbria stranded on Sundays.

South Lakes Tim Farron has asked Northern to urgently look at the contracts after nine trains on the Furness Line were cancelled last Sunday due to crew shortages. There were seven cancellations on the Lakes Line on the same day.

Drivers and conductors in the north-west area of the Northern franchise are not contractually obliged to work on Sunday.

Mr Farron has also written to the new transport secretary, Grant Shapps, urging him to work with Northern to get this resolved.

Mr Farron said: “It’s been great to see the quality of trains improve over the summer with brand new rolling stock, but sadly we aren’t seeing the quality of service improve.

“And now passengers have been left stranded on one of the busiest weekends of the year because of these bonkers rules.

“Imagine going to a restaurant which is advertised as open, sitting down, paying for your meal in advance and then being told it’s hit and miss as to whether the chef will turn up because he doesn’t actually have to.

“If the Secretary of State doesn’t want to be seen as another Failing Grayling then he needs to sit down with Northern to urgently address this so that passengers are able to get that reliable service that they pay for and deserve.”

Robert Parker, of the Furness Line Action Group, said there had been 23 cancellations in the past two weeks and Sunday cancellations were a problem.

He said: “There are a number of reasons why there have been cancellations.

“It comes down to problems with train stock as well the agreement with crew about working rest days leading to shortages.”

Members of the Furness Line Action Group are due to meet Northern’s regional director Chris Jackson in Grange on Tuesday.

New trains on the Furness Line were launched in July, featuring free Wi-Fi, air conditioning, and seat reservation systems.