NORTHWICH'S MP has told the transport secretary that a delay in bringing extra train services to Manchester is 'unacceptable'.

Long-awaited plans for two trains an hour along the Mid Cheshire Line to Piccadilly are set to be pushed back again due to problems with the tracks at Stockport.

The new service – promised by Northern back in 2015 – was due to be introduced in December, before being pushed back to May when it again failed to come to fruition.

In a letter to Chris Grayling, Weaver Vale MP Mike Amesbury said: “The recent announcement is quite unacceptable, especially coming without any explanation or consultation.

"The lack of a frequent, reasonably fast, and reliable train service is causing economic difficulties in mid Cheshire and we need this promised train service urgently.”

A Transport for the North meeting last week revealed that 'pathing issues' at Stockport means that the proposed second train per hour may only run from Chester to Altrincham, where passengers would need to use Metrolink services to access Manchester.

Andrew Cooper, Northwich Town Council member and rail campaigner, added: “Yet again the people of Northwich are being let down by the railway operators.

"Not only has the reliability of the service deteriorated considerably over the last five years, we now find out that Northern has not even applied for pathways to run two trains per hour into Manchester – something they both promised and are contractually obliged to deliver.

"That the government are allowing this situation to persist tells you all you need to know about the commitment to delivering a reliable and regular service from Northwich.

"It's time they started taking the transport network around Northwich seriously and deliver on their commitments.”